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The government of President Bola Tinubu has called on the U.S. government to reassess its visa restrictions, which have cut the five-year visa policy for Nigerians traveling for non-immigrant and non-official purposes to just three months.
They argue that this change is “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity.” The foreign affairs ministry, through spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, responded to the recent U.S. visa policy update that limits the validity of non-immigrant visas, including B1/B2, F, and J categories, to three months with a single entry.
The statement noted, “This decision seems inconsistent with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect that should guide interactions between friendly nations.”
Furthermore, it stated, “While we recognize each country’s sovereign right to set its immigration policies, Nigeria respectfully asks the United States to review this decision in the spirit of partnership, cooperation, and shared global responsibilities.”
The Nigerian foreign affairs ministry expressed concern that the policy would adversely affect Nigerians, stating, “This restriction imposes an excessive burden on Nigerian travelers, students pursuing academic opportunities, professionals engaged in legitimate business, families visiting relatives, and individuals involved in cultural and educational exchanges.”
They reassured Nigerians that discussions with U.S. officials are ongoing and committed to finding a solution that embodies fairness and upholds mutual interests.
This announcement follows a memo from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria on Tuesday evening, indicating that the Trump administration plans to reduce the five-year visa duration to three months in order to combat visa overstays.
It clarified that visas issued before Tuesday, July 8, will remain valid and unaffected by this new policy. The non-immigrant categories, which encompass tourism and business visas, represent the majority of annual approvals for Nigerian citizens.
