According to a statement issued by the US Department of State on July 8, 2025, most non-immigrant and informal visas issued to Nigerians are restricted to single entry and are valid for three months.
Under the new guidelines, affected visa applicants will be subject to the latest terms of validity and entry conditions as part of what the US government calls “adjusting reciprocity.”
The change aims to align the treatment of Nigerian citizens with how US citizens are treated under the Nigerian visa system.
“US visa standards and standards are designed to protect the integrity of the US immigration system. These standards are based on global technology and security benchmarks. The US mission is working with the Nigerian government to ensure that Nigeria can meet the standards.”
“US non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025 retain their status and validity. We would like to emphasize that globally, the interaction of visas is a continuous process that is reviewed and changed at any time, including an increase in allowed entries and an increase in period of validity,” the statement said.
Things Nigerian travelers need to know
The changes apply to non-immigrant visas that are normally issued for purposes such as tourism (B1/B2), business, or research (F and M categories).
So far, most Nigerian applicants have received multiple input visas valid for 2-5 years. These allowed travelers to freely enter and leave the United States during their validity period without having to reapply for each visit.
The updated policy has dramatically reduced this flexibility.
Nigerian travelers will be issued a single entry visa that is valid for just three months.
This means that once travelers enter the US and leave, they cannot reuse their visas even if they have time left.
To return, you will need to re-start the entire visa process, including paying the application fee and scheduling new interviews if necessary.
This shift not only increases the financial burden and administrative demands for Nigerian travelers, but also limits the ability to plan multiple trips and meet last-minute obligations overseas, particularly for businessmen, students and frequent flyers.
