The United States Consulate made this announcement in a statement issues earlier 27th August.
According the them, the extra cost will be applicable to only those whose Visa requests were granted after the specified date.
'Effective worldwide on 29 August, Nigerian citizens will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, for all approved applications for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications,” the statement read.The statement also explained that the increase was made based on a similar treatment afforded to the United States citizens by foreign governments, and the Nigerian government in this case.
'The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application. Nigerian citizens whose applications for a non-immigrant visa are denied will not be charged the new reciprocity fee.
Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.'
Speaking more on the development;
'Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity: when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on U.S. citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas,Well, we are yet to hear the Nigerian government give any official statement concerning the development.
Nationals of a number of countries worldwide are currently required to pay this type of fee after their non-immigrant visa application is approved.
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 United States. The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.'
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