Nigerians To Pay More For US Visa Applications

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced that it will now charge Nigerians an additional fee for the issuance of its visa.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, the payment of the visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, will take effect worldwide on August 29.

The reciprocity fee will be required for all Nigerian citizens worldwide, regardless of where they are applying for a non-immigrant visa to the U.S.

Only Nigerians whose applications for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications have been granted will be required to pay the additional fee on top of the fee paid to get a visa interview.

The reciprocity fees to be paid for each visa classification is as follows: B1 ($110), B2 ($110), B1/B2 ($110), F1 ($110), F2 ($110), H1B ($180), H4 ($180), I ($210), L1 ($303), L2 ($303), R1 ($80) and R2 ($80).

Nigerians whose visa applications are denied will not be required to pay the fee.

"Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification. The reciprocity fee is required for each visa that is issued, which means both adults and minors whose visa applications are approved will be charged the reciprocity fee," The embassy said.

Unlike the initial fee to get an interview, the reciprocity fee can only be paid at the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General, and not at banks.

Explaining the reason for the new fee, the embassy said U.S. citizens currently obtain Nigerian visas at a higher cost compared to Nigerians obtaining a comparable visa to the U.S.

Therefore, the new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.

"U.S. law requires U.S. visa fees and validity periods to be based on the treatment afforded to U.S. citizens by foreign governments, insofar as possible.

"Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity: when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on U.S. citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas.

"Nationals of a number of countries worldwide are currently required to pay this type of fee after their nonimmigrant visa application is approved," the embassy said.

The embassy said the Nigerian government failed to heed its pleas for 18 months to change the fees charged to U.S. citizens for certain visa categories.

In May, the embassy indefinitely suspended the visa interview waiver for Nigerians renewing visas in the country.

Before the suspension, Nigerian holders of US visa types B1/B2, F, H, and L could renew their visas online by processing it through DHL using one of several dropbox locations across Nigeria without attending physical interviews.

Ghanaians Can Now Enter South Africa Without Visas

The Department of Home Affairs says the country’s new eVisa system will launch in November 2019, and it has added new nations to the list of countries that can enter South Africa visa-free.

According to a report tweeted via the unverified Twitter handle of Home Affairs @HomeAffairsSA on Wednesday, seven new countries can now visit South Africa visa-free.

The report quoted the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, as having announced that seven new countries will be added to the list of nations that are able to come to South Africa without a visa.

“Tourism will soar if we relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa. We know that tourism is very important for job creation,” he said.

“Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries. Of these, 16 are in our continent and are SADC (Southern African Development Community) members and 59 are from all over the world.”

The department announced that the countries that will now be able to enter South Africa visa-free are Qatar, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe.

The minister said his office will immediately enter into discussions with the countries about how a visa-free regime will work, with “homework” still needing to be done for countries like China, India and Nigeria.

“While we are busy tackling the matter of the three countries, we shall, this financial year, increase two and a half times the number of people who work for Home Affairs to process visas in both China and India.

“We shall double the number of people who process visas to our country in Nigeria,” he said.

A department spokesperson said that the countries announced by the minister only apply to inbound visas (citizens from the listed countries visiting South Africa), and that outbound visas (South Africans visiting the countries listed) need to be negotiated on a country-by-country basis.

The department noted that some countries, such as Qatar and Ghana, already have visa-free or visa on arrival agreements with South Africa.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, South Africans can visit 99 countries around the globe visa-free.

Also speaking at the department’s budget vote, deputy minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza said that the department is moving forward with the implementation of the country’s e-Visa regime.

“This regime will place technology at the centre of our operations by making it easy, yet secure, to enter South Africa,” he told Business Tech.

The e-visa system will allow tourists and visitors to South Africa apply for their visas online. These applications will then be sent to a central adjudication and approval office, while the prospective visitors “sit at the comfort of their own home.”

The new system will also open South Africa as a desirable destination through the ease of its visa systems, the deputy minister said, adding that it will have huge tourism growth implications for the country.

The e-visa regime is anticipated to be fully introduced in November 2019.

US Suspends Visa Interview In Nigeria

This may not be the best of best for those whose US visa is about to expire as the United States has henceforth canceled the dropbox collection.

According to the statement released, The United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria says visa interviews will now be compulsory for all those seeking to renew their travel documents in the country, Igbere TV can report.

The embassy has consequently suspended ‘drop box’ service otherwise known as interview waiver.

In a statement obtained on Tuesday, the US said the interview waiver suspension will take effect from Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

“The Embassy and Consulate of the United States in Nigeria have suspended the interview waiver ‘Drop Box’ application process effective May 14, 2019,” the statement read.

This means those attempting to renew their visas must now attend visa interviews like first-timers.

Read the full press release...