The United States has clarified that its recent decision to reduce the validity period of nonimmigrant visas for most Nigerian applicants is not politically motivated. Contrary to widespread speculation, the U.S. said the move has no connection to Nigeria’s diplomatic decisions regarding deportees, its ties to BRICS, or its adoption of e-visa systems.
The clarification follows public concerns linking the visa policy shift to a diplomatic row involving the U.S. request for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister had rejected the request, describing it as unfair and unworkable given the country’s own social and economic burdens.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stated that the visa validity reduction is part of a broader global policy review based on security and technical considerations.
“This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, the introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS,” the Mission said. It added that similar changes have been implemented in other countries, and are guided by uniform global standards.
The policy change now means most Nigerian applicants for nonimmigrant visas — including business and tourism categories — will receive single-entry visas valid for three months, rather than the longer validity previously granted.
The U.S. government explained that this adjustment stems from an ongoing review of how visas are used globally, emphasizing the need to align with evolving immigration safeguards and security benchmarks.
Reacting to the deportee issue, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister said the country could not absorb Venezuelan migrants who had served prison terms in the U.S., citing local capacity challenges and asserting Nigeria’s focus on economic cooperation with the U.S. rather than humanitarian resettlement.
Despite the new visa restrictions, the U.S. reiterated its commitment to a longstanding partnership with Nigeria and expressed willingness to work with Nigerian officials and the public to meet necessary benchmarks for possible restoration of longer visa validity in the future.
