As a Nigerian applying for a visa to the USA, you will have to pay a visa fee before your visa application.
The visa fee for USA from Nigeria depends on the type of visa you are applying for, but it ranges from ₦268,389 (185) to ₦457,000 ($315).
This visa fee for USA from Nigeria is not refundable even if your visa application gets rejected. In this article, you will learn how much is American visas cost for Nigerians.
Key takeaways:
- US visa fees for Nigerians range from ₦269,000 ($185) to ₦457,000 ($315), depending on the visa type.
- The tourist/business visa (B1/B2), student visas (F1/M1), and exchange visitor visa (J1) all cost $185 (₦269,000), making them the most affordable options.
- Beyond the base visa fee, you may need to pay for SEVIS fees (up to ₦507,800 for students), medical exams (around ₦421,000), and a Visa Integrity Fee (₦362,000), depending on your visa category.
- You can make visa fee payments online or through a cash deposit at designated banks.
- Immigrant visas (green card) cost more, starting from $675 for the I-130 petition, plus additional processing fees.
Types of U.S. Visas Available to Nigerians.
There are mainly 2 types of visas offered by the US Department of State: non-immigration visas and Immigration visas.
Types of US Non-immigration visas available to Nigerians.
- B1/B2 Visitor Visa: This type of visa is used for short visits, such as tourism and visiting family and friends. You cannot work with this type of visa
- F1/M1 Student Visas:
- F1 student visas: This is used for academic studies.
- M1 student visas: This is used for Vocational training.
Note:
You must show proof of being admitted into a recognised University or College and have a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) to apply.
- J1 Exchange Visitor Visa: This type of visa is used for cultural and educational exchange, such as tourism and education.
- Work Visas (H, L, O):
- H Visas (H-1B, H-2B): For skilled workers in specialty occupations, e.g., tech professionals.
- L Visas: For intra-company transferees (managers, executives, or specialized knowledge employees) moving within the same company structure to a U.S. office.
- O Visas: For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics.
Note:
A US-based employer must first file for a petition to be approved before you can apply for a visa.
What is an Immigration Visa?
This is a visa applied to fully change residence from your home country to a foreign country, probably to live with a family member already based there. You will need a residential permit (Green Card).
Get your visa in 2 weeks without any down payment.
What are the Non-Immigrant Visa Fees (Standard Visas)?
|
Visa Type |
Description |
Current Fee (USD) |
Current fee (Naira ₦) |
|
B1/B2 |
Tourist, business, medical trips, visiting family |
$185 |
₦269,000 |
|
F1/M1 |
Academic or vocational studies |
$185 |
₦269,000 |
|
J1 |
Cultural exchange, research, and training programs |
$185 |
₦269,000 |
|
H, L, O, P, Q, R |
Temporary skilled workers, intra-company transfers, extraordinary ability, athletes, religious workers |
$205 |
₦297,500 |
|
K |
Fiancé(e) to marry a U.S. citizen |
$265 |
₦297,500 |
|
E |
Treaty Traders & Investors |
$315 |
₦457,000 |
What are the Immigrant Visa Fees?
This applies to visas used to change residence. It’s usually more expensive, and the process is longer.
|
Fee Stage |
Description |
Current Fee(USD) |
Current Fee (Naira ₦) |
|
I-130 Petition |
Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative (filed by U.S. sponsor) |
$675 |
₦1,000,000 |
|
DS-260 Processing |
Immigrant Visa Application Processing (Family-Based) |
$325 |
₦471,500 |
|
DS-260 Processing |
Immigrant Visa Application Processing (Employment-Based) |
$345 |
₦500,500 |
|
Affidavit of Support |
I-864 Affidavit of Support Review Fee |
$120 |
₦174,100 |
|
Diversity Visa |
DV Program Application Fee (per |
$330 (Nigeria is currently ineligible for the DV lottery) |
₦478,800 |
Additional visa fees for the USA from Nigeria for Nigerians to expect:
These fees do not apply to every visa category.
- SEVIS Fee: SEVIS fee is required for all F, M, and most J visa applicants to track their status.
- F-1/M-1 Students: $350 USD {₦507,800}
- J-1 Exchange Visitors: $220 USD {₦320,000} (some government programs are exempt.
- Visa Integrity Fee: The Visa integrity fee is paid by Non-Immigrant visa applicants and collected after visa approval. It costs about $250 {₦362,000}
- Medical Exam Cost: This visa fee is paid by those applying for an Immigrant visa and some Non-Immigrant Visas to cover medical checkups and vaccines to be taken. It ranges from $290 {421,000}.
- USCIS Immigrant Fee: The USCIS immigrant fee is paid for the creation of a physical green card (Residential permit), paid immediately after the visa approval.
How to pay for the US visa fees in Nigeria
The first step to take before you begin to talk about making payments is creating a profile on the U.S. Visa Information and Appointment Services website.
Every payment you make is nonrefundable or transferable to another profile, even if your visa gets denied, because the fee is for the Processing of your application, and your payment is valid for one year from the date of payment.
There are two acceptable means of paying for US visa fees, which are: paying online and paying through a cash deposit.
How to pay for US visa fees online
- Log in to the U.S. Visa Information and Appointment Services website.
- Navigate to the payment section.
- Select the online payment option, and you will be given a reference number and instructions on how to pay.
- Pay through an integrated platform and print out a copy of the payment confirmation.
How to pay US visa fees through a cash deposit.
- When you log in to the US visa appointment services website.
- Select the cash payment method to get a bank payment slip.
- Print out the bank payment slip.
- Take it to a bank like GTB and make a payment to the equivalent of the amount in naira, and you will be given a payment receipt. Your payment will reflect within 24 – 48 hours.
Once your payment has been received and confirmed, you can use your receipt number to schedule your interview.
How to apply for a US visa in Nigeria.
Step-by-step process to apply for a US visa in Nigeria.
- Choose the visa category you want to apply for. For example: tourism visa, work visa, student visa, and immigration visa. This depends on your reason for traveling.
- Create a profile on the US visa application website.
- Fill the DS-160 form online: This form is found on the U.S. Visa Information and Appointment Services website. It has spaces for information such as your name, date of birth, passport number, etc. When you have completed the form, you will be sent a DS-160 confirmation page with a barcode, which is required for your interview.
- Generate payment slips and pay the visa fee.
- Book a visa interview date.
- Attend the visa interview with the required documents: Some of them are a Valid International Passport, DS-160 Confirmation Page, Visa Appointment Confirmation, and Visa Fee Payment Receipt.
- Visit the official website to get updated.
- Wait for the visa decision.
If you want to understand how to apply for visas for any country, read this guide.
The common mistakes to avoid as a Nigerian when paying for the US Visa Fees.
- Using the wrong payment reference number.
- Paying for the wrong visa category.
- Trying to transfer a receipt to another person.
- Not checking the current dollar to Naira exchange rate before making a visa fee payment.
- Delaying booking a visa interview after paying for the visa.
Things to do before paying the US visa fee.
- Confirm the latest fee on the official US embassy website.
- Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
- Have your DS-160 confirmation page ready.
- Avoid agents who promise guaranteed approvals.
- Budget for extra costs (photos, transportation, documents).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The visa fee for USA from Nigeria depends on the type of visa you are applying for, but it ranges from ₦268,389 (185) to ₦457,000 ($315). The US tourist visa (B1/B2) fee is $185.
Yes, Nigerians can apply for and be granted a US tourist visa.
There is no fixed bank balance requirement, but you must show enough funds to cover your trip expenses.
The B1/B2 tourist visa is generally the easiest US visa to apply for.
CONCLUSION
Honestly, providing the correct information without attempting to use fraudulent or invalid papers, and understanding the accurate visa fee and payment steps, even though they are non-refundable, significantly increases your chances of your visa being approved.
