The Federal Government has announced that the United States has removed the reciprocity fee it imposed on visa applications for Nigerians. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ferdinand Nwonye made this known in a statement on Friday, saying the removal took effect on 3, December 2020. "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," Nwonye said. "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," he added.
According to the US, the reciprocity fee was after two years of failed negotiations with Nigeria over the extra visa application charges on Americans.
"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," US Embassy said.
"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," it added.
Also speaking on the development, Mohammed Manga, spokesman to Rauf Aregbesola- Nigeria interior minister said "The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s Visa charges to US Citizens to USD 150 with effect from Thursday, 29th August 2019."