The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has addressed public concerns about visa application fees, explaining that they fund the processing of each submission regardless of the outcome, in line with standard practices worldwide.

In a statement posted on its X account on Tuesday, the embassy acknowledged frustrations but clarified the policy. "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," it read. The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, but the embassy assured that every case undergoes a thorough and fair review.

To improve success rates, the mission recommended careful preparation and consulting resources on its website (ng.usembassy.gov/visas). It also outlined key guidelines: applicants must schedule interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. For F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas, privacy settings on all social media accounts should be set to 'public' to aid identity and admissibility checks under U.S. law.

The statement referenced a Presidential Proclamation effective June 9, 2025, restricting entry and visas for nationals of certain countries due to security threats. Those affected can still apply and attend interviews but may be ineligible for issuance or admission. Recent changes in April 2025 require DS-160 forms with barcodes starting "AA" followed by two zeros for Abuja and Lagos interviews; mismatches lead to disqualification.

The clarification comes amid ongoing debates in Nigeria about visa denials and costs, with many applicants facing rejections despite payments. The U.S. processes thousands of Nigerian applications annually, emphasizing compliance to avoid issues.