US removes reciprocity visa fees for Nigerians.
The Federal Government on Saturday, 5th of December has announced that the United States has removed all visa reciprocity fees for Nigerians seeking visas to the country with effect from 3rd of December.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed it this weekend, saying that the development was consequent to the removal of excess visa application, processing and bio-metric fees for American citizens applying for Nigerian Visas.
Recall that the Donald Trump administration had in 2019 imposed the reciprocity fee for all approved non-immigrant visa applications by Nigerians. The fee was charged in addition to visa application fees for only applicants who are issued visas.
The additional reciprocity fees which ranged from $80 to $303 depending on the class of visa, took effect from August 29, 2019. The US Embassy in Nigeria said the reciprocity fees were in as as a result of to vain talks with Nigeria to adjust the fees it charges Americans applicants. It argued that the total cost for a US citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States.
The mission stated that the reciprocity fee ought to freeze out the cost difference as required by US laws. Announcing the removal of the reciprocity fee in a statement, the MFA Spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye, 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.
The positive development is in line with the removal of excess visa application, processing and bio-metric fees for United States citizens applying for Nigerian visas by the Nigerian Government. The United States Government has therefore, eliminated reciprocity fees for Nigerian citizens with effect from December 3, 2020”.
