Everything Nigeria citizens need to know about applying for a United States visa. Updated July 2026.
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| Visa Type | B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa (entry and issuance SUSPENDED for Nigerian nationals, within the scope and exceptions of Proclamation 10998) |
| Application Fee | USD $185 (MRV fee); a $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026) |
| Processing Time | U.S. B-1/B-2 issuance is suspended for affected Nigerian nationals under Presidential Proclamation 10998, subject to its scope and exceptions. Check eligibility before using interview-wait estimates. |
| Maximum Stay | Up to 1 year per admission under 8 CFR 214.2(b), set by CBP at the port of entry and shown on your I-94; B-2 tourists are normally admitted for at least 6 months |
| Approx. Refusal Rate | 57% |
| Official Portal | Official application site |
SUSPENDED: under Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective 1 January 2026, entry of Nigerian nationals on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas is suspended. Section 6(a) limits this to people who were outside the United States on that date and held no valid visa that day. Other nonimmigrant categories continue, and consular officers are told to reduce their validity to the extent permitted by law
Visas issued before 1 January 2026 are not revoked under the proclamation (section 8(c))
Exceptions include lawful permanent residents of the United States and dual nationals travelling on a passport issued by a country that is not designated (section 6(b)); case-by-case exceptions are possible under sections 6(d) to 6(f)
DS-160 online application required
Routine visa services are only at the US Consulate General in Lagos since 1 August 2026; the Embassy in Abuja handles official and diplomatic visas only (US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria)
In-person interview required: the official appointment service says the interview waiver is not currently available in Nigeria, and the accommodation section of the Embassy page says waivers are only granted in extreme situations
B1/B2: nationals of Nigeria found otherwise eligible must post a bond of up to $20,000 before the visa can be issued, wherever they apply (US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria)
A $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but is not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026)
Before preparing anything, check whether Proclamation 10998 covers you: since 1 January 2026 it suspends the entry of nationals of Nigeria on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas, but only for people who were outside the United States on that date and held no valid visa that day, and it lists exceptions. If a visa can be issued in your case, a 214(b) refusal means the officer was not convinced you qualified, so be ready to explain your travel purpose and the ties to Nigeria that compel your return, and keep every answer consistent with your DS-160.
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Yes. Nigeria citizens need a B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa (entry and issuance SUSPENDED for Nigerian nationals, within the scope and exceptions of Proclamation 10998) to visit United States. Application fee: USD $185 (MRV fee); a $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026). Processing: U.S. B-1/B-2 issuance is suspended for affected Nigerian nationals under Presidential Proclamation 10998, subject to its scope and exceptions. Check eligibility before using interview-wait estimates. The approximate refusal rate for this corridor is 57%.
The B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa (entry and issuance SUSPENDED for Nigerian nationals, within the scope and exceptions of Proclamation 10998) application fee is USD $185 (MRV fee); a $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026). A $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but is not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026). Budget for the total cost including biometrics, service centre fees, and any required medical examinations.
Processing for Nigeria citizens applying for a United States B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa (entry and issuance SUSPENDED for Nigerian nationals, within the scope and exceptions of Proclamation 10998): U.S. B-1/B-2 issuance is suspended for affected Nigerian nationals under Presidential Proclamation 10998, subject to its scope and exceptions. Check eligibility before using interview-wait estimates. Apply well in advance of your intended travel date to allow for potential delays.
Beyond standard documents (valid passport, photos, financial proof), Nigeria citizens must meet these corridor-specific requirements: SUSPENDED: under Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective 1 January 2026, entry of Nigerian nationals on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas is suspended. Section 6(a) limits this to people who were outside the United States on that date and held no valid visa that day. Other nonimmigrant categories continue, and consular officers are told to reduce their validity to the extent permitted by law. Visas issued before 1 January 2026 are not revoked under the proclamation (section 8(c)). Exceptions include lawful permanent residents of the United States and dual nationals travelling on a passport issued by a country that is not designated (section 6(b)); case-by-case exceptions are possible under sections 6(d) to 6(f). DS-160 online application required. Routine visa services are only at the US Consulate General in Lagos since 1 August 2026; the Embassy in Abuja handles official and diplomatic visas only (US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria). In-person interview required: the official appointment service says the interview waiver is not currently available in Nigeria, and the accommodation section of the Embassy page says waivers are only granted in extreme situations. B1/B2: nationals of Nigeria found otherwise eligible must post a bond of up to $20,000 before the visa can be issued, wherever they apply (US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria). A $250 Visa Integrity Fee is enacted but is not yet collected (not in the US fee schedule as of 23 September 2026). TravelReady generates a personalised checklist for the Nigeria-United States corridor.
Before preparing anything, check whether Proclamation 10998 covers you: since 1 January 2026 it suspends the entry of nationals of Nigeria on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas, but only for people who were outside the United States on that date and held no valid visa that day, and it lists exceptions. If a visa can be issued in your case, a 214(b) refusal means the officer was not convinced you qualified, so be ready to explain your travel purpose and the ties to Nigeria that compel your return, and keep every answer consistent with your DS-160. Refusals on this corridor usually turn on one of a few things: documentation that is incomplete or inconsistent, financial evidence that does not show where the money came from, or a file that does not establish your reason for returning. TravelReady's Expert Document Validation checks your documents against embassy rules specific to the Nigeria-United States route before you submit.
Data sources: Requirements sourced from official embassy and consulate websites, IATA travel regulations, and government immigration portals.
Update policy: Requirements are reviewed continuously and updated within 24 hours when policy changes are announced. Last reviewed: July 2026
TravelReady is not affiliated with any government or embassy. Always verify requirements with the official consulate for your destination.
