The United States has removed all visa reciprocity fees for Nigerians seeking entry visas into the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Saturday that the development was sequel to the removal of excess visa application, processing and biometric fees for American citizens applying for Nigerian visas.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the United States Government has removed all visa reciprocity fees for Nigerian citizens seeking visas to the United States,” the ministry’s spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye, said.
In August 2019, the United States had increased the cost of visa application for Nigerians.
The US Consulate explained that the increment was to “reciprocate” the extra visa fee that the Nigerian government had charged American citizens.
It argued that the total cost for a US citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria was higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States.
The mission insisted that the reciprocity fee was meant to eliminate the cost difference as required by US laws.
Responding to the outcry of many Nigerians, the federal government responded by reducing visa fees for Americans travelling to Nigeria from $180 to $150 in response to the US Embassy’s introduction of a “reciprocity fee” for Nigerians.
Acknowledging the development, The US Consulate announced the elimination of visa reciprocity fees, effective immediately.
According to it, “The positive development is in line with the removal of excess visa application, processing and biometric fees for United States citizens applying for Nigerian visas by the Nigerian government.
