ABUJA — The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued an official public advisory clarifying that visa application fees paid by prospective applicants are non-refundable, regardless of whether a visa is ultimately approved or denied.
In a public statement released on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the diplomatic mission explained that payment collected during the application process constitutes a processing fee rather than a purchase charge for a visa.
The mission emphasized that non-immigrant visa application fees—currently set at $185 for standard business and tourism categories—cover administrative overhead, documentation verification, and official adjudication procedures regardless of the final determination reached by consular officers.
Cautioning visa seekers against falling victim to fraudulent schemes, diplomatic officials urged applicants to beware of third-party “consultants” or unauthorized agents promising guaranteed visas or offering “refundable” application fee deposits.
The US Mission advised intending travelers to carefully review application requirements and rely strictly on official U.S. government portals ending in “.gov” to obtain accurate guidelines and avoid financial exploitation by unauthorized actors.
