How to Apply for US Visa in Nigeria | USA Visa Application

The USA Visa application is one of the most popular in Nigeria. The American visa is one of the most sought-after visas in the world. The majority of travellers visiting the United States must obtain a visa to visit the United State. 

People have different motivations for travelling, some of these reasons range from work, relocation, permanent residency, visits, vacation, study, business or trade. Whatever your reasons, getting an American visa should be on your bucket list.   

America is one of the greatest countries in the world. The nation draws a diverse range of individuals with various aspirations. However, there are several obstacles when applying for a US visa. Obtaining a US visa can be difficult because most people do not understand how it works. To apply for a US Visa, some important steps must be taken.

What is a Visa?

A visa is an official document issued by the government of a country, which grants the holder conditional entry to their country. The visa is usually stamped on the traveller’s International passport. There are different types of visas ranging from tourist, medical, work, student, business etc. 

What is USA Visa?

This is the official document issued by the United States embassy that allows you to visit the United States. The document is a conditional permit that allows you to visit, study, stay or pass through the United States of America. 

Types of USA Visa in Nigeria

First of all, you need to understand the purpose of the visa and why you need a visa and know the type of visa in Nigeria to apply for.

The US embassy issues a visa to people as a permit to enter the country. Before applying, you must be aware of the sort of visa you require. There are major two types of visas:

Immigrant Visa: This is the type of visa that is specific to anyone who intends to relocate or permanently live in the US. 

Non-Immigrant Visa: This is the type of visa that is applicable for people who intend to visit the United States for a short stay. At the US Embassy in Abuja or at the US Consulate General in Lagos, you can apply for a non Immigrant Visa. This visa is needed by people who need to travel temporarily to the United States for a specific purpose. 

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Categories of USA Non-Immigrant Visa 

• Au pair (exchange visitor) J
• Business visitor B-1
• CNMI-only transitional worker CW-1
• Crewmember D
• Diplomat or foreign government official A
• Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer – B-1
• Exchange visitor J
• International cultural exchange visitor Q
• Medical treatment, visitor for B-2
• Media, Journalist I
• Performing athlete, artist, entertainer P
• Physician J, H-1B
• Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) J
• Religious worker R
• Student: academic, vocational F, M
• Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor B-2
• Treaty trader/treaty investor E
• Transiting the United States C
• Immigrant US Visa 
• Spouse of a U.S. Citizen IR1, CR1
• Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition K-3 *
• Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S. K-1 *
• Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4
• Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4
• Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents F2A, F2B
• Employer-Sponsored – Employment E1
• Employment-Based Immigrants, including  
• Religious Workers L
• SD, SR
• Other Immigrants
• Diversity Immigrant Visa DV
• Returning Resident SB
• Students, visitors on business trips or specialized employment, vacationers, and people with an urgent need for medical treatment can obtain this visa.

Cost of US Visa in Nigeria

The cost of a USA Visa varies from one category to Another. To apply for US visa in Nigeria, you need to first make payment for the US visa fee in Nigeria through GTCO bank. Below are the different cost for the different visa categories in Nigeria.

The US Visa cost between $160 (68,800) and $265 (113,950)  

Business / Tourist B1/B2 $160

Transit C-1 

Ship/Airline Crew 160

Student (Academics ) F

Journalists and media I

Exchange Visitor J

Student (Vocation) M

Religious Worker R $190

Fiance or Spouse Visa $265

Steps To Apply For A US Visa in Nigeria

For Non-Immigrant Visa Application:

1. Make Payment for MRV Visa Fee Receipt

The first thing to do is to make payment for the U.S. Visa Fees Online or over the counter at any GTCO former GTBank.

If you do not have a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account or have access to the GTB online portal/service, visit the nearest branch of Guaranty Trust Bank. You will have to go with your International passport. Present your international passport with the visa fee of $160 to the teller. The naira equivalent of the $160 will be paid in naira. As of the time of writing this in July 2022, it is 68,800 Naira. This will enable the bank teller to generate the MRV payment receipt.

To Make For USA Visa Fee Through The Online Banking payments, 

Visit the GTBank website www.gtbank.com 

Input your User ID and Pin on the Login platform.

On the portal, kindly navigate to the Travels section

Select Visa, under Visa,

Choose USA visa

Select the visa category, the Visa fee amount will automatically generate

Enter your name, Passport Number and phone number

Select the account you want the payment to be withdrawn from

Before authorizing payment, check your details again and make any necessary edits.

Click the submit button to complete the transaction by authorizing it with a code issued by your token hardware device or by dialling *737*7#

Automatically, the Visa fee Reference form will generate. 

Save the document, you will be needing it at the interview.

If the payment is successful, an automatic receipt is generated. Print the receipt and take it to the embassy.

2. Complete the US Visa Application form – DS160

The US DS-160 application Visa form should be completed on the U.S. Department of State Application website.

Take note that this form is particular to non-immigrant visa applicants, it will take you about 90 minutes or less to fill and can only be assessed from different browsers like Chrome, Edge or Firefox browsers. You are to fill this form online with your information and ensure that it is error-free.

The form has different sections and each section must be filled.  

Always review every piece of information before submitting it. 

In case you discover at the end of filling the form that you have entered the wrong information, you can always edit if you have not submitted it. Once you submit, you can not edit any information on your DS160, you will have to create and complete a new form online. 

Therefore, ensure all the information provided is error-free and true, else your application might be rejected.

Lastly, make sure you either print the completed DS160 confirmation form. Ensure you keep this safe, it will be requested when you schedule an interview or appointment with the US embassy in Nigeria.

3. Schedule a Visa Appointment/Interview

The final part of the US visa application process is to schedule a visa interview with the embassy. Applicants must physically show up at the Abuja or Lagos Consulate General of the United States. Applicants will use the online scheduling tool or the call centre to make an appointment for that interview.

To schedule appointments at the US embassy, take note that there is a limit on how many times applicants may reschedule their appointments. Please make your plans in advance to avoid having to pay another visa application fee.

4. Attend the scheduled interview for a visa.

Based on the US embassy that you scheduled the Interview, either Lagos or Abuja. You will have to visit the US embassy of your choice, Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled interview time. 

Prepare ahead so that you are not disoriented, and make enquiries as much as possible. Your fingerprint will be required, also ensure that you are smartly dressed. 

For security reasons, you will be checked by a metal detector. Do not fret as this is one of the standard procedures to ensure that you are safe and ready to meet with the interviewer. 

Arrive early and arrange all your documents and note important ones to avoid wasting time.

5. Conclusion of the Visa Application Process

You will find out whether your visa application was granted or denied after your interview. If your visa application is accepted, the consular will pick up your international passport and offer you a form to complete. 

You must take this form and your international passport, which has a US visa stamp on one of the pages, to the VFS document collecting office.

Your international passport would be returned to you after the interview if your visa application was denied. You can submit a petition or schedule another interview if your application for a visa was rejected. You’ll have to start the application process all over by filling out the DS 160 form and rescheduling another appointment.

What is the US Visa Processing Time in Nigeria

The US visa processing time varies from time to time. It depends on how early you can get an appointment date. Getting an appointment date at the US embassy has become a major concern.

Documents For US Visa Application

When preparing for US Visa Application, You need the following details and paperwork before you can apply for a non-immigrant visa:

1. International Passport: The Nigerian International passport is an official travel document issued by Nigerian Immigration. A Passport is one of the major requirements for travel to the United States. You can not travel to the United States without it. It must be valid for at least six months before the expected travel date (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).

2. The MRV Receipt/Visa Fee: This is the visa fee paid to GTBank, you must present the visa receipt for your visa application. You must also provide evidence of this payment. The MRV stands for Machine Readable Visa. 

3. DS-160 acknowledgement page/ DS160 Confirmation: After filling the DS160 and submitting it, it will automatically generate the DS160 confirmation page. 

4. Passport Photograph: Another requirement is your passport photograph. A current passport photo that was taken within the last six months must be provided. The passport photograph must meet the required standard. The passport must be 2 by 2 inches and with a white background. The two ears must also be visible. 

5. Appointment Confirmation: The appointment confirmation is the document that proves that you have booked an appointment with the US embassy. You can generate it after you have successfully booked the appointment date. 

US Embassy Locations In Nigeria

In Nigeria, the United States embassy has two locations. One of the locations is in Lagos and the other is in Abuja. 

US Consular in Lagos

Lagos U.S. Consulate General Lagos – It is located at Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.

U.S. Embassy Abuja 

The USA Embassy in Abuja is located at Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area Abuja.

How to apply for US Immigrant Visa

1. Obtain a petition from an eligible employer or relative

A person who wishes to immigrate to the United States must have a petition authorized by US Citizenship and Immigration Services before applying for an immigrant visa (USCIS). A local USCIS office receives the petition from an eligible relative or a potential employer.

 Regarding submitting immigrant petitions, the relevant information is available on the USCIS website. An authorized petition and, if applicable, a priority date that is current are requirements for processing an application for an immigrant visa. 

Immigrant visa petitions are not accepted by the American Embassy in Abuja. All applications for immigrant visas in Nigeria are processed by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. American residents residing in Nigeria may submit up to 130 applications for immediate relative immigrant classification to the Immigrant Visa Unit in Lagos. 

The American citizen petitioner must have been a resident of Nigeria for at least six months before filing the petition and must be able to provide proof of permission to do so (such as Nigerian Permanent Resident status, employment status, or another type of permanent status). Americans who are temporarily residing in Nigeria, such as students or tourists, do not meet the residency requirement and must submit their petitions to the local United States government.

Office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with jurisdiction over the residence of an American citizen.

Please provide the following paperwork to the Embassy if you want to petition for a beneficiary:]

• A signed Form I-130 that is fully completed.
• Email addresses for the beneficiary and petitioner.
• A completed biographical data form, with a passport-style photo affixed to the bottom of each form, one for the petitioner and one for the recipient.
• A copy of documentation showing the petitioner’s legal long-term stay in Nigeria for more than six months before submitting the I-130, such as immigration papers, a long-term visa, or another type of approval from Nigerian immigration officials.
• Civil documents are issued with the government office’s official seal, stamp, or signature. The original United States record will be presented later, and notarized copies, religious documents, and medical records are not acceptable:
• Proof of the petitioner’s citizenship in the United States, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate.

Also, there is a need to provide proof of relationship between the beneficiary and the petitioner, state the number of spouses or children the beneficiary has, official marriage certificate or proof. In cases of divorce, it should be stated with a valid certificate.

You also have English proficiency certification or indicate if you speak any other languages.

As you go on, endeavour to make an available photocopy of each document so that you do not have to spend more than necessary at the embassy during the interview.

2. Scheduling a medical appointment and certification.

To scale through the immigration process, you need to be certified fit by a medical practitioner. Here is what you need to know about this: 

For medical requirements, all applicants must go through a medical examination by a Panel of Physicians certified by the Embassy.

NVC or the Embassy will provide you with details on making an appointment for your medical examination.

Not attempt to schedule an appointment before having a proper guide on how to go about it.

The following documents are needed:

• Your receipt for paying the visa application fee.
• DS-160 acknowledgement page.
• Your email address.
• Documents specific to the sort of visa you’re requesting.

Every candidate should make a medical appointment with a licensed doctor in the nation where they will be attending their interview, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A physician who is an “approved physician” is one who is A physician who has been authorized by the US embassy in your nation and is referred to as an “authorized physician.” The consular will not recognize your medical check as valid if you go to another doctor to finish it.

During the physical, your medical history will be reviewed.

•Medical history

physical examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin, and external genitalia.

• A Chest X-ray
• Blood Tests
• Sputum Checks for cases of tuberculosis or infections.

You must bring the following documents with you when you visit the doctor:

• Your letter requesting a visa

•Your ID card

• A sized passport-sized colour photos (the number varies from 2 to 4 depending on the embassy)

• A copy of your vaccination record.

After the test, the authorized doctor will either transmit the test results directly to the US Embassy or Consulate after the examination or provide the applicant with the results in a sealed envelope (do not open it!) to submit them with the other documents on the day of the visa interview.

3. Schedule an appointment

It is different to schedule your fingerprinting and interview sessions when you apply for a US immigration visa. The National Visa Center (NVC) is in charge of scheduling appointments for immigrant visas, unlike non-immigrant visas where you must do everything yourself.

The documents are sent to the NVC by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) following processing of the employer- or family-sponsored immigrant visa petition. A case identification number and a fee identification number are given to you by the NVC.

The appointments are then set depending on whether the visa has an annual limitation or limit.

They schedule the biometrics and interview if the visa you’re applying for has no time limit.

The fingerprints and meeting appointments are made right away if the visa you’re applying for has no time limit. If the visa has an annual cap, they hold off until you are ready, at which point you will receive a processing date. They set up the appointments when it is your chance to obtain the visa.

You have no control over the appointment time for US visas while applying for immigrant visas. As a result, the NVC will arrange it whenever your US Embassy has a free time slot. This implies that to attend the fingerprinting and interview sessions, you must make arrangements in advance and take time away from your job or other obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions By US Embassy for US Visa in Nigeria

What are you studying in the US?
Why the US?
Who is sponsoring your education?
Why did you choose this course?
Who is sponsoring your education?
Do you plan to come back after your education?
Do you have friends or family in the United States?

How To Apply for US Visa in Nigeria

We can help you process US visa from any state in Nigeria. We can process US visa in Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo. Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Looking for Trusted US Visa Agents in Nigeria

Looking for a tested and trusted travel agent / Agency in Nigeria, Travelwaka offers the best travel advisory, visa processing,

If you are looking for a trusted US Visa agent or company in Nigeria. Travelwaka can assist you with your US visa application in Nigeria

US Visa agent in Lagos

American visa agency in Abuja

US Visa agent in Port Harcourt
US Visa Agent in Ibadan

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