Visa Fee Payment Options
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has outlined updated visa application fee requirements and payment methods for Nigerians seeking nonimmigrant visas. All applicants, including children, must pay a non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee before their application is processed. The fee cannot be refunded or transferred to another person and remains valid for one year from the date of payment, regardless of visa approval or denial.
According to the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria, applicants must first register on the official visa scheduling portal and begin the scheduling process before making any payment. After selecting the visa type and entering personal details, two payment options become available. The first option allows payment in local currency through First Bank of Nigeria, either as a cash deposit or an electronic funds transfer. This method requires generating a payment deposit slip from the portal, which expires after three days. Applicants who miss the deadline must log back in and generate a new slip. After completing the bank payment, applicants must wait one business day for the transaction to be processed before booking an appointment.
The second option is a card payment made in US dollars directly on the portal. This method is processed immediately, with no waiting period before scheduling an interview.
Fee Amounts by Visa Category
The most common nonimmigrant visa types, including tourist (B-1/B-2), business, student, and exchange visas, require a fee of $185. Most petition-based visas, such as work and religious visas, cost $190. E visas are priced at $205, while K visas cost $265. Notably, K visa applicants must make their payment at GT Bank rather than First Bank.
Several categories are exempt from paying the MRV fee entirely. These include applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas, as well as US government employees travelling on official business and certain J visa holders participating in US government-sponsored exchange programmes.
Additional Fees for Students and Workers
Students applying on F or M visas must also pay a separate SEVIS fee of $350, while most J visa exchange visitors pay $220. These fees are paid independently of the MRV fee through the SEVIS Fee Processing system. First-time L-1 blanket petition applicants face an additional Fraud Prevention and Detection fee of $500, payable in cash to the cashier at the Consular Section on the day of the interview.
Applicants with questions about the current consular exchange rate are advised to visit the application portal, create a profile, and answer five short questions to confirm the exact amount due in local currency.
Broader Visa Policy Context
In a related development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new global visa restriction policy targeting cybercrime offenders under a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This policy follows online investment scams, many linked to Chinese criminal organisations, which cost Americans at least $10 billion in 2024 alone, according to the US government. The new policy aims to restrict visas for individuals involved in such activities, further tightening US visa regulations globally.
