Effective 29 August, 2019, Nigerian citizens applying for the United States visa, will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa categories.

The new reciprocity fee range from $80 to $110 (28,8000 to N39,600) depending on the visa category, and can only be paid at the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General.

According to a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the fee was imposed to reciprocate a similar fee by the Nigerian government on American citizens applying for Nigerian visa.

"The total cost for a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States. The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference." said U.S Embassy.

The non-refundable reciprocity fee are for approved applications and will be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application fee. Nigerian citizens whose applications are denied, will not be charged the new reciprocity fee.

The new reciprocity fee which is for each visa issued, will be required for all Nigerian citizens worldwide, regardless of where they are applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States.

For details of the new reciprocity fees, please visit www.ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas and www.ustraveldocs.com/ng