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GOOD NEWS

The United States is set to increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the US temporarily for business and/or tourism, a statement by the US Consulate General said on Monday.

The new policy will start from Wednesday, March 1, 2023, the statement said.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Federal Government directed the implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the US with effect from March 1, 2023, following an approval for the kickstart of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the US and Nigeria

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the two countries also include the reciprocity of five-year tourist visa validity for American citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; extension of visa validity to three years for diplomats and government officials between the citizens of both countries.

The statement by the US Consulate on Monday also assured that the cost of the visa fee still remains the same.

The statement reads, “Effective March 1, 2023, the U.S. Mission will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and/or tourism.

“The visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa. The visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity