Visa Cut Not Linked To Reforms, Diplomatic Tensions, Says US Embassy

Amid growing concerns over the United States’ decision to slash the validity of non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has said the move was not a retaliatory response to recent immigration reforms by the Nigerian government.

In a statement released via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle yesterday, the U.S. Mission said the decision to impose a single-entry, three-month visa validity was part of a global review process and not a reaction to internal developments in Nigeria.

“The US Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant US visas in Nigeria and other countries,” it stated.

“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.”

The announcement came as Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior under Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo continues to roll out sweeping reforms across the immigration sector. Since 2023, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced a number of digital innovations, including the replacement of the Visa-on-Arrival policy with an e-Visa Application Channel, the launch of e-CERPAC, and the deployment of Landing and Exit Cards, as well as a Temporary Work Permit system.

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Despite speculations, the U.S. Embassy emphasised that its visa review was neither tied to Nigeria’s refusal to accept deportees, particularly from Venezuela, nor was it linked to recent geopolitical developments.
Earlier this week, the U.S. further announced visa restrictions for Nigerians, sparking more debate. The move coincided with former President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 10 percent tariff on Nigerian goods exported to the U.S, a decision some interpreted as back lash against President Bola Tinubu’s recent participation in the BRICS summit in Brazil, seen as a pivot away from Western alliances.

Still, the U.S. Mission insists that the longstanding diplomatic relationship between both nations remains intact.

“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our two nations,” the embassy said.