The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has addressed concerns over the non-refundable nature of U.S. visa fees, noting that the policy aligns with international practices.
The embassy explained that visa fees cover the cost of processing applications, regardless of whether they are approved.
In a statement on its X handle Tuesday, the Mission assured Nigerians that all visa applications are reviewed thoroughly and fairly. It said, “We hear your concerns regarding U.S. visa application fees. Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing the application, regardless of the outcome. While fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, each application is reviewed thoroughly and fairly.”
The Mission advised applicants to prepare their applications carefully and provided guidelines to help avoid visa denial, revocation, or cancellation. It instructed, “Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.”
The statement also referenced the upcoming Presidential Proclamation on restricting entry of foreign nationals to protect U.S. national security, effective June 9, 2025. “Applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States,” the Mission said.
Applicants were encouraged to consult resources available on the U.S. Mission website for guidance.
The Mission also reminded Nigerians that in April 2025, it revised visa interview requirements. All applicants attending interviews in Abuja and Lagos must present a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes. The barcode must match the one used to schedule the interview online; failure to present a matching barcode will result in disqualification.