US visitor visas for Nigerians are suspended. Read this before you pay $185.
Since 1 January 2026, most Nigerians who apply for a US visitor visa are refused, and the fee is not refunded. Here is what the rule says, who it does not touch, and what to do instead.
Facts checked 11 September 2026
If you are about to pay $185 for a US visitor visa, stop and read this first.
What changed
On 1 January 2026, a US presidential proclamation (number 10998) suspended the entry of Nigerian nationals on B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 visas. Those are the business and tourist visas most people mean when they say "US visa". Student (F, M, J) and immigrant visas are covered too.
You can still fill the DS-160, pay the fee and attend the interview. The State Department says so plainly. But it also says applicants covered by the proclamation may be found ineligible for the visa, and that is what happens to most people.
Why this matters for your money
The $185 application fee is not refundable. If you apply now and you are refused because of the suspension, that money is gone.
Anybody who takes your money today to "process" a US visitor visa knows this, or should. Ask them, in writing, what happens to your fee if the suspension is the reason you are refused.
Who it does not touch
If you already hold a valid US visa issued before 1 January 2026, the proclamation does not cancel it. The State Department has said no visa issued before that date has been or will be revoked because of it.
There are limited exceptions for some applicants. They are narrow, and nobody can buy their way into one.
Two more changes you should know about
- Visa bond. Since 21 January 2026, Nigerians who are otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa can be asked to post a bond of up to $15,000.
- Lagos only. Since 1 August 2026, the US Embassy in Abuja no longer handles routine visas. Applications go through the Consulate General in Lagos.
Visitor visas issued to Nigerians are also single entry and valid for 3 months, under the reciprocity rules that changed in July 2025.
What I would do instead
If the US was for a holiday, there are places you can go this year without this fight, and some you do not need a visa for at all. Message me on WhatsApp and I will tell you honestly whether your plan makes sense right now.
Sources
Planning your own trip? Ask me. It costs nothing.
Message me on WhatsApp