By Seun Adams
Information obtained from the United States Consulate in Lagos yesterday, revealed why the U.S slammed additional visa fees
dubbed (reciprocity fees) on intending Nigerians seeking to migrate to it’s country.
Taking effect from today Wednesday, intending Nigerian visitors to the United States of America (USA) therefore will now be required to pay an additional $110 Visa issuance fee for approved applications, the U.S government said.
The fee referred to as reprocity will be paid at U.S consulates worldwide by Nigerians will be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application of $160 which is also often referred to as MVR fee.
With this, the visa fees for prospective Nigerians seeking trip to U.S will add up to $210.
The U.S Lagos consulate in a statement made available to the media on Tuesday, hinted that Nigerians whose applications are denied will not be made to pay the reprocity fees of $110.
It said U.S policy and law require that visa fees and validity periods to be based on treatment on the treatment given to it’s citizens by foreign governments.
The statement reiterated: “Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity, when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on U.S citizens.
“Washington impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas.”
According to the statement, nationals of other nations will now be required to pay this similar fees after their non immigrant visa application is approved.
The consulate said: “The total cost for a U.S citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the U.S. The new reprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.
“Since 2018, the U.S government has engaged the Nigerian government to request that it change the fees charged it’s citizens for certain visa categories.”
It added that after one and half years of review, the Nigerian government did not changed its position and structure for U.S citizens visa applicants, requiring the department of state to enact new reciprocity fees in accordance with it’s law.