US Reduces Visa Validity to Three-month for Nigerians.
The US government has announced a new rule for Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas. Most applicants will now receive only a single-entry visa that is valid for three months.
The US Mission in Nigeria said this new visa rule is to match Nigeria's visa policy for Americans. It is a way of making the rules fair for both countries.
Before the new policy, the US gave many Nigerians visas that were valid for two years and allowed multiple entries. Some Nigerians even received visas valid for five years with multiple entries.
In a statement on Tuesday, the US embassy said the new visa policy is part of a global process called visa reciprocity. This process looks at how American citizens are treated in other countries and adjusts the rules to match.
The US recently started a rule that requires checking the social media accounts of foreign students from Nigeria and other countries who apply for student visas. Because of this, consular officers now watch for posts or messages that might be seen as against the US, its government, culture, or values.
