U.S. mandates $250 integrity fee for Nigerians, others seeking non-immigrant visas
The U.S. State Department noted that the integrity fee was refundable provided visitors abide by the rules of their visas.
Nigerians at the Airport
Nigerians at the Airport
The Donald Trump administration has revised its immigration rules to include a mandatory $250 integrity fee for Nigerians and other foreigners granted non-immigrant visas to the U.S.
The new measure, included in the president’s Big Beautiful Bill passed earlier this month, requires visa applicants to pay the fee only upon successful issuance of their U.S. visa. Applicants who are denied a visa are exempt from the payment.
The U.S. State Department noted that the integrity fee was refundable provided visitors abide by the rules of their visas which include not taking unauthorised jobs, not seeking an extension of stay and leaving the country no later than five days after the expiration of their visas.
“Travellers may get a reimbursement if they comply with all the conditions of their visas. These include not accepting unauthorised employment, not seeking to extend their validated stay, and departing the U.S. not later than five days after the last day of such period,” the bill stated.
It added, “Visitors who are granted the status of a lawful permanent resident are also qualified for a refund. However, there are no details about the procedures for such a claim.”
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has also reduced the multiple entry five-year non-immigrant visas to only single entry three-month visas in what was described as reciprocity to the treatment of Americans by the Nigerian government.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Bunmi Tunji-Ojo said he met U.S. ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills and discussed “implementing measures to limit overstays by travellers on U.S. visas.”
