The United States has introduced significant changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, reducing the validity and limiting conditions for most travelers from these countries.
According to the US Department of State, nearly all non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of these nations will now be single-entry and valid for just three months. This marks a notable departure from previous terms, which often allowed multiple entries over periods of up to two years.
The State Department says the move is part of a “global reciprocity realignment,” aiming to align US visa policies with those of other countries. However, questions have been raised about the fairness of this approach. For instance, US citizens can obtain visas valid for up to a year in Cameroon and 90 days in Ethiopia more generous than the new US terms prompting doubts about whether true reciprocity is being applied.
Nigeria, which currently issues single-entry, three-month e-visas to US citizens, has publicly criticized the new policy. The Nigerian government called the decision disproportionate and urged Washington to reconsider, warning that the restrictions could harm long-standing cultural and educational exchanges between the two nations.
The US says its visa policies remain under continuous review, based on diplomatic, immigration, and security considerations. In a statement, the government said it is working with authorities in the affected countries to improve:
- Issuance of secure travel documents
- Management of visa overstays
- Sharing of security and criminal data
The new restrictions come just weeks after even stricter measures were applied to Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, where the US suspended all immigrant and non-immigrant visa services.
Additionally, US visa applicants worldwide are now subject to social media vetting, aimed at identifying any signs of hostility toward American society, institutions, or values.
Nigeria remains a major source of international students to the US. According to the 2024 Open Doors report from the US State Department, Nigeria ranked seventh globally and first in Africa, with a 13.5% increase in Nigerian students from 2023.
Opinions on the move are divided. Bashir Ahmad, former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested the policy reflects growing US discomfort with Nigeria’s foreign alliances, particularly following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Brazil for the BRICS summit. Ahmad wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“This is not solely about reciprocity. Rather, it appears to reflect growing US discomfort with Nigeria’s increasing global realignment.”
However, immigration lawyer Godwin Oke offered a different view, calling the move a standard example of visa reciprocity in international diplomacy.
“The US was issuing Nigerians five-year multiple-entry visas, while Nigeria offered only short-term, single-entry visas. This imbalance was bound to be corrected,” he told the BBC.
Earlier this year, the US Embassy in Nigeria warned that overstaying a visa could result in a permanent travel ban or even criminal charges. While no official data exists on Nigerian visa overstays, the policy has caused concern among citizens.
Many young Nigerians driven by economic hardship and high unemployment continue to seek opportunities abroad in a trend known locally as “Japa,” meaning “to escape” in Yoruba. Despite rising barriers, the United States remains a top destination.
