Nigerians hit by cuts in US visa length

[ad_1] America has introduced sweeping adjustments to its non-immigrant visa coverage for Nigeria, reducing the length and circumstances beneath which most Nigerian travellers can enter the nation.

As from 8 July, the US Division of State says almost all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian residents will now be single-entry and legitimate for under three months.

It says that is a part of a worldwide reciprocity realignment, a pointy shift from earlier visa phrases, which regularly allowed for a number of entries over two years or extra.

Nigeria additionally provides single-entry visas legitimate for 3 months just for these planning to go to the nation from the US.

The Nigerian authorities has not but commented.

The State Division says visa insurance policies stay "topic to ongoing evaluate" and will change relying on evolving diplomatic, safety, and immigration benchmarks.

In an announcement, the US authorities mentioned it was working intently with Nigerian authorities to make sure the nation meets key worldwide requirements.

These embody:

issuing safe journey documentsmanaging visa overstayssharing safety or prison information for public security functions The US additionally ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners making use of for visas, together with from Nigeria, could be vetted for "any indications of hostility towards the residents, tradition, authorities, establishments, or founding rules of the US".

Nigeria was the seventh largest supply of worldwide college students to the US, and the very best in Africa, in line with the 2024 Open Doorways report on worldwide schooling exchanges.

The report printed by the US division of state, bureau of academic and cultural affairs confirmed a 13.5% enhance from 2023.

An aide to former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari mentioned he believed the US was not reciprocating however displaying its displeasure with Nigeria.

Bashir Ahmad posted on X that President Bola Tinubu‘s current go to to Brazil for the Brics gathering was behind the transfer.

“This isn't solely about reciprocity. Slightly, it seems to mirror rising US discomfort with Nigeria's rising world realignment, significantly the nice and cozy reception we're receiving from the Brics,” he wrote.