US visa approvals for Nigerians drop 23% in 2024 as stricter policies target multiple-entry permits and social media disclosure

Residents of Lagos State and other parts of Nigeria spent more than ₦50 billion on United States visa applications between 2023 and 2024, even as the US government introduced tougher entry requirements that led to a sharp decline in visa approvals. Data from the US Department of State analysed by Intelpoint revealed that Nigerians paid an estimated $37.2 million—about ₦50.7 billion at an average exchange rate of ₦1,360 to the dollar—for non-immigrant visa applications during the period.

The report showed that the number of non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians dropped by about 23 percent, falling from 113,900 in 2023 to 87,300 in 2024. This represents a reduction of over 26,000 visas within a single year. Business and tourism travel continued to dominate approvals, with B1/B2 categories accounting for around 83 percent of all visas issued in 2024. Student visas (F1) made up roughly seven percent, while exchange visitor and other temporary categories comprised the remainder.

Experts say the fall in visa issuances is linked to new US immigration policies introduced after Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. In July last year, the US State Department announced that most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerian citizens would be limited to single-entry permits valid for only three months—existing visas were not affected by this change. The following month, applicants were required to provide all social media usernames used over the previous five years on their DS-160 forms, with consular officials warning that omissions could lead to denial or future ineligibility.

Despite economic challenges and the high cost of application fees—which stand at $185 per person—Nigerians remain among Africa’s most mobile populations. Susan Akporiaye, former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, said travel demand cuts across all income levels. “People would say it’s because of the economy, but I share a different view. Nigerians are generally migrants; they love travelling… We are like the Chinese of Africa,” Akporiaye stated in an interview.

She further noted that most Nigerians who travel eventually return home, with only a small fraction remaining abroad permanently. “The ones who travel and return are far more than those who stay back. It’s not up to ten percent that don’t return,” she added. The report also found that Nigeria accounted for about 0.8 percent of global US non-immigrant visa issuances in 2024.

With tighter restrictions now in place—including social media scrutiny and shorter validity periods for visas—travel industry stakeholders expect demand for US travel to remain robust but warn that applicants should prepare for longer processing times and increased documentation requirements.

Source: https://punchng.com/nigerians-spend-n50bn-on-us-visa-applications/