BREAKING: Nigerians Spends Over N50bn on U.S Visa Applications Amid Declining Approval Rates

Nigerians spent more than N50bn on US visa applications between 2023 and 2024 despite declining approval rates linked to tighter US immigration rules and stricter screening.

An Intelpoint analysis based on US State Department data shows 201,200 non-immigrant visas were issued within the period. At $185 per application, total spending is estimated at $37.2m (about N50.7bn at N1,360/$1).

Visa issuance dropped by 23%, from 113,900 in 2023 to 87,300 in 2024, a reduction of 26,600 visas. Data for 2025 was not available.

Business and tourism visas (B1/B2) made up 83% of approvals in 2024, while student visas accounted for about 7%, with other categories making up the rest.

Nigeria accounted for about 0.8% of global US non-immigrant visa issuances in 2024.

Experts say Nigerians’ strong travel culture continues to drive demand, though approvals have become more difficult due to policy changes and stricter checks.

Following Donald Trump’s return to office in 2025, new measures included limiting most Nigerian visas to single-entry, three-month validity and requiring applicants to disclose social media handles from the past five years.

Further restrictions in December 2025 expanded travel limits affecting Nigeria and other countries from January 2026.

Travel agents report higher rejection rates, especially for first-time applicants, with many Nigerians now turning to alternative destinations such as the UK and parts of Europe, although those regions have also tightened visa rules.