The United States government on Friday removed the reciprocity fee imposed on visa applications for Nigerians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the development which took effect from December 3, in an official public statement.

Ferdinand Nwonye, the ministry’s spokesman said: “The ministry of foreign affairs wishes to inform that the United States government has removed all visa reciprocity fees for Nigerian citizens seeking visas to the United States.”

He added that the development “is in line with the removal of excess visa application, processing and biometric fees for United States citizens applying for Nigerian visas by the Nigerian government”.

In August 2019, the United States had increased the cost of visa application for Nigerians. The US Consulate explained that the increment was to “reciprocate” the extra visa fee that the Nigerian government had charged American citizens.

Consequently, Nigerians were required to pay a fee called visa ‘issuance fee’, or ‘reciprocity fee’, for all applications for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications.

But the Nigerian Government announced Friday that the extra fees have been reversed. The US government also confirmed the development, noting however, that Visa application fees remain at $160.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja ______________________
PRESS RELEASE pic.twitter.com/YH8AhPsO2X

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) December 4, 2020

The U.S. Mission to to Nigeria is pleased to announce the elimination of visa reciprocity fees, effective immediately. We thank @GovNigeria for its partnership in eliminating these reciprocity fees. Visa application fees remain at $160. https://t.co/3yZ9JyCILw pic.twitter.com/kJpveaD58G

— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) December 5, 2020

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