The United States Embassy in Abuja has firmly dismissed speculation that its decision to shorten the validity of non-immigrant visas for Nigerians is tied to Nigeria’s recent engagements with the BRICS economic bloc.
In a statement, the Embassy emphasized that the new policy, which limits B1/B2, business/tourist, F, student, and J, exchange visitor, visas to single-entry with a three-month validity, is based on global technical and security standards, not political considerations.
The abrupt change, effective July 8, 2025, marks a significant shift from the previous multi-entry, longer-validity visas, sparking concern among Nigerian diplomats, academics, and business professionals.