In line with its reciprocity policy, the Federal Government through the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the decrease of Visa charges payable by United States (US) citizens as recommended by the Committee set up to conduct due diligence in line with the Ministry’s extant policy on reciprocity of Visa fees.
It will be recalled that the United States Embassy in Nigeria had earlier in the week announced an increment in the amount payable by Nigerians applying for visas effective from Thursday, August 29, 2019.
The Embassy which disclosed this in a statement in Abuja earlier in the week said the increment was based on reciprocity, adding that Americans were paying too much to secure Nigerian visas and thus the US government decided to retaliate.
According to the statement, Nigerians applying for tourism, student and business will have to pay an extra $110 (N40,700) after the visa has been issued to them in addition to the initial application fee of N59,200, bringing the total cost to N99, 900.
However, applicants who are denied visas would not need to pay the extra N40,700.
Applicants seeking the L1 Visa (work permit) will pay an extra N112,100 if given visas while those applying for H4 Visa (dependency/spousal) will pay an extra N66,600.
The embassy said it had been holding talks with the Nigerian government to reduce the fee being paid by US citizens to obtain Nigerian visa but the Federal Government refused to accede to its requests.
Meanwhile in a statement in Abuja yesterday, Mohammed Manga, Director (Press & Public Relations) in the Ministry of Interior said that the attention of the Ministry of Interior had been drawn to the introduction of reciprocity of Visa fees by the United States of America.
The statement explained that the Ministry acknowledged that there were engagements with the United States Embassy on the issue and in the aftermath, a Committee was set up to conduct due diligence in line with the Ministry’s extant policy on reciprocity of Visa fees.
It stated that the Committee had concluded its assignment and submitted a report but the issuance of authorisation for its recommendations was delayed due to transition processes in the Ministry at the policy level.
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the decrease of Visa charges payable by US citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the Committee.
“Accordingly, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s Visa charges to US Citizens to USD 150 with effect from Thursday, 29th August, 2019”, the statement read in part.
Photo: Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
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