United States extends TOURIST VISA VALIDITY for Nigerians

By Iyojo Ameh

The United States Embassy in Nigeria says Effective March 1, 2023, the U.S. Mission will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and/or tourism.

A statement by the Embassy in Abuja says the visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before having to renew it.

It explains that the visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity.

It says Increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria adding that the U.

The statement adds that Appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.

It says for No-Interview Visa Renewal, applicant may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if their application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa, AND have met each of the following criteria:

Physically present in Nigeria.
Previous visa was issued in Nigeria.

Previous visa is in the same classification as your current application.

Previous visa was a full-validity, multiple-entry visa.

Previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.

All your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa and have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if later received a waiver or pardon.

Have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.

The statement says If applicants are qualified based on the above criteria, they should visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to start application.

It says that each applicant must individually meet the criteria while minors can apply without an interview only if they meet the eligibility criteria on their own.

For Emergency Appointments the Embassy says If one have a life-or-death emergency, they may request an expedited, in-person interview; however, to accommodate No-Interview Visa Renewals, appointments will be very limited.

It says Business travel, conferences, weddings, and graduations are not considered emergencies.