ABUJA: The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that U.S. visa application fees remain strictly non-refundable, stressing that the policy is in line with global immigration practices.
In a statement issued via its official X handle on Tuesday, the Mission explained that visa fees cover the cost of processing applications irrespective of whether they are approved or denied.
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 statement read.
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The Embassy encouraged Nigerians to carefully prepare their applications to avoid common pitfalls that may lead to denial, cancellation, or revocation. It also released updated guidelines for applicants, particularly for nonimmigrant visa categories such as F, M, and J.
Among the directives, the Mission requested that applicants adjust the privacy settings of all their social media accounts to public to aid identity verification during security vetting.
The notice also referenced a Presidential Proclamation on immigration and national security, which came into effect on June 9, 2025, restricting or suspending visa issuance to nationals of certain countries.
While affected applicants may still attend interviews, the U.S. warned that they could remain ineligible for visa approval.
Furthermore, the Embassy reminded applicants that all interviews in Abuja and Lagos require the presentation of a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation barcode beginning with AA00.
Any mismatch between the barcode and the interview appointment record, it said, would result in automatic disqualification.
The clarification comes amid growing debates in Nigeria about the fairness and transparency of U.S. immigration policies.
The Mission maintained that its procedures are designed to uphold both fairness and U.S. national security, while applicants are encouraged to consult official embassy resources for guidance.
