The United States Mission in Nigeria has reaffirmed that visa application fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable, even in cases where applications are denied.
It made the clarification on Tuesday following growing public concern over the financial burden many Nigerians face during the visa process.
In a statement shared via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the Mission acknowledged the frustrations of Nigerian applicants, particularly those whose visa requests are unsuccessful despite paying substantial application fees.
“We hear your concerns regarding U.S. visa application fees,” the Mission stated.
According to the statement, “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. For best results, prepare your application carefully and use the resources on our website.”
This comes amid increasing social media conversations from Nigerian citizens who describe the visa process as financially demanding, especially when they are unable to recoup or reuse the fees paid after a visa denial.
The U.S. Mission emphasised that visa fees are not a guarantee of approval but are instead intended to offset the administrative and logistical costs associated with processing each application.
It encouraged all prospective travelers to take the application process seriously, pay close attention to guidelines, and utilise the free resources available on the U.S. Mission Nigeria website to improve their chances of success.
