By Promise Dera

Copyright nigerianeye

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reiterated that visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of whether a visa is approved or denied.

The statement, issued on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, via a post on X with the hashtag #VisaWiseTravelSmart, addressed concerns from Nigerian applicants, particularly those seeking student and visitor visas, about the financial strain of repeated denials without refunds.

In the post, the Embassy explained that the visa fee covers the cost of processing each application, stating, “Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing the application, regardless of the outcome.”

The Embassy emphasized that each application is reviewed thoroughly and fairly, advising applicants to prepare carefully using resources available at https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/.

The standard U.S. nonimmigrant visa fee is $185 (approximately ₦280,000) for tourist, business, student, and exchange visas, while work and religious visas cost $190, K visas $265, and E visas $205.

Many applicants have faced financial challenges after reapplying and repaying fees multiple times following rejections.

The Embassy also reminded applicants to schedule visa interviews in their home country or country of permanent residence and to set social media accounts to “public” to aid identity and admissibility vetting under U.S. law.

Additionally, the U.S. government highlighted that a Presidential Proclamation effective June 9, 2025, restricts visa issuance and U.S. entry for nationals of certain countries deemed security risks.

Affected applicants may still apply and attend interviews but may be ineligible for visas or U.S. admission.

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