The US Embassy in Nigeria is implementing stricter visa application processes, including new DS-160 form requirements and a mandate for two consulate visits, to curb application fraud and address concerns about birth tourism. This comes as birthright citizenship in the US remains a significant draw for Nigerians due to the limitations of their national passport. The embassy will deny visas if birthright citizenship is the primary motivation for travel, despite the US Supreme Court not having ruled on the matter. Additionally, student visa applicants face potential social media vetting to exclude individuals with extremist ideologies.
Nigeria ns against travelling with the primary intention of giving birth and claiming US citizenship for their children. The US embassy in Nigeria said such travel applications would be denied if consular officers have reason to believe that birthright citizenship is the main motivation.
Birthright citizenship is especially valuable for Nigerians due to the country’s weak passport, ranked among the world’s with visa-free access to just 44 countries. US citizenship offers a strong passport, family sponsorship, and economic opportunities that Nigerians can’t easily secure otherwise. These benefits have made birth tourism a global trend.The US supreme court has yet to rule on the matter, leaving birthright citizenship constitutionally protected.to its visa interview requirements for Nigerian travellers. Applicants in Abuja and Lagos were instructed to take along a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation/barcode number that begins with “AA” followed by two zeroes.The changes were introduced to curb application fraud, reduce no-shows, and streamline processing amid surging demand and backlogs. Previously, applicants often submitted DS-160 forms after booking appointments or used mismatched/old forms, causing consular confusion, invalid interviews, and wasted slots.Earlier in 2025, from January 1, all visa applicants were also mandated to visit the consulate general in Lagos twice as part of the application process.US embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants. The order was in preparation for a proposed vetting of social media accounts to ensure students with ideologies of “terrorism” and “antisemitism” were kept out of the US.The crackdown came weeks after dozens of foreign students had their visas revoked without reason. Some Nigerian students were said to be affected by the sudden revocations.36 mostly African countries considered for a travel ban, an internal memo signed by Marco Rubio, secretary of state, showed. In March of the same year, a list of countries was considered for visa restrictions, but Nigeria did not make the cut at the time. According to the June memo, Nigeria was asked to meet new requirements laid down by the state department within 60 days. The details of those requirements — and the rationale behind them — were not made public.Shortly after the memo asking embassies to pause student visa interviews, the US embassy in Nigeriaall applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas to adjust their social media privacy settings to public. The F visa covers academic study, the M visa is for vocational study, while the J visa applies to exchange visitor programmes.REDUCTION IN VISA VALIDITY, ENTRY ALLOWANCEthat most non-diplomatic and non-immigrant visas would be limited to single-entry with a three-month validity period. The embassy said the revision was part of its global visa reciprocity process, where its visa policies were aligned with how its own citizens are treated by other countries. Before the change, Nigerian applicants were typically granted multiple-entry visas depending on the visa category. For example, tourist and business visas often allowed multiple entries for up to five years, student visas usually covered the full duration of the academic programme, with room for extensions, while exchange visitor visas varied by programme but often allowed multiple entries. Nigeria also retained its visa terms for US citizens, which allows validity to range from three months to five years, with either single or multiple entry permitted depending on the category. But in the updated visa policy, the US embassy said Nigeria still needs to meet certain criteria to improve the visa reciprocity standing, which include issuing secure travel documents with verifiable identities, effectively managing visa overstays, and sharing relevant security and criminal record information with US authorities.the US to reconsider its decision in the spirit of partnership, cooperation, and shared global responsibilities.that Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers from the US was partly responsible for the visa restrictions imposed on the country. Diplomatic sources told TheCable that the US president had been putting pressure on many countries to serve as temporary homes for asylum seekers until their cases are treated, and this usually takes up to seven years.The specifics of the arrangement were not disclosed, but diplomatic sources confirmed that discussions took place and were unsuccessful owing to Nigeria’s unwillingness to accept non-citizens, many of whom had a number of years left to finalise their asylum applications.TheCable learnt that the US also pushed for the option of allowing its citizens to electronically apply for Nigeria’s five-year visa without visiting an embassy. But sources familiar with the negotiations said Nigeria was not open to the request, citing concerns over reciprocity, as similar American visa privileges are not extended to Nigerians. In addition, TheCable understood that the US wanted access to Nigeria’s criminal database so that Nigerians with previous criminal records who were living in the US could be identified for deportation., the US mission in Nigeria directed non-immigrant visa applicants to provide details of their social media accounts from the past five years, including usernames or handles across all platforms used within the period. The mission warned that omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.Rubio said free speech was among the most cherished American rights, and vowed to tackle foreign governments and officials clamping down on their citizens.Trump signed a proclamation imposing an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications.that allows employers to hire foreign workers in specialised fields like medicine, tech, and engineering. Before Trump’s proclamation, H-1B visas cost employers around $1,500 in administrative fees, and were valid for three to six years. The new policy was expected to significantly affect Nigerian professionals, particularly doctors and tech experts, who often rely on the programme to secure employment in the US. The US tech sector relies heavily on foreign workers, including Nigerians, with government figures showing that roughly two-thirds of H-1B jobs are computer-related. The visa is also used to hire engineers, educators and healthcare workers.US WARNED HIGH-PROFILE CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS COULD FACE VISA BANSthat high-profile individuals who engage in corruption could be barred from receiving visas. The warning came as Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , expressed concern that Nigeria is regarded as a nation with entrenched corruption and impunity in Africa. The US often imposes visa bans as a strict measure to punish offenders of its values in partner countries.visa restrictions on individuals in Nigeria who disrupted general elections.visa bans and asset freezes as targeted sanctions on individuals and entities who they said were responsible for severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria. The resolution named the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as erring entities. The recommendations came as lawmakers vowed to hold Nigerian officials accountable over claims of a Christian genocide, an allegation that led to the US bombing “Islamist hideouts” in Sokoto state on Christmas Day. The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected these allegations, maintaining that religion is not a major factor in the country’s insecurity conundrum. However, the US has insisted otherwise.In an official state position, Rubiothe US would ensure visa restrictions affect those who “knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom”. He said the visa policy applied to Nigeria and other governments or individuals that persecute people for their religious beliefs. According to the secretary of state, the move was part of the US’s decisive action in response to the “atrocities and violence against Christians” in Nigeria and around the world.Nigeria to a list of 15 countries facing partial travel restrictions, citing “security and documentation” concerns.as the travel ban list included Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica — two Caribbean nations, both popular among wealthy Nigerians for offering citizenship-by-investment programmes without long-term residency requirements. The White House cited a CBI pattern as justification for adding Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica to the list.
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