Good News As The US Visitor Visa Validity Time Gets Extended To 60 Months

Visa Validity Extended 

The US Mission as of yesterday February 27 2023 put out the news that the US visitor visa validity has been extended from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to travel to the United States temporarily for business and/or tourism. This visa validity extension gives Nigerians the chance to use their visa for 60 months to take short trips to the United States either for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa.

The application fee for this visa is currently $160 and there will be no price increase despite the increase in visa validity extension. To help reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria, increasing visa validity is one of the several initiatives taken by the United States to combat these wait time problems. For people who made the eligibility criteria, the US mission continues to offer no interview visa renewals and appointments for no interview and visa renewals are available to the people who want them. 

No Interview Visa Renewal

If you are applying for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only) H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa, you may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if you’re able to meet these criteria; 

 If your previous visa was issued in Nigeria 

 If your previous visa was a full validity multiple entry visa 

 If you are physically present in Nigeria 

 If your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application 

 If you have all your passport covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and also the passport with the most recent visa 

 If your previous visa expired within the last 38 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the month of application 

 If you have never worked without authorisation or stayed behind beyond your permitted time in the United States 

 If you have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offence in the United States even if you later received a waiver or pardon.

You can click here to start your application if you meet any of the above criteria. It is important to note that processing times for the program can be up to 2 months and that you will not be able to get your passport during that time. Minors can apply without an interview only if they meet the eligibility criteria on their own and also each applicant must individually meet the criteria. 

If you are qualified based on the criteria above you can start your application at www.ustravel.com/ng

What is a visitor visa? 

To be able to enter the United States, citizens of foreign countries must first obtain a visa which could be a non-immigrant visa for a temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas for people who want to travel to the United States on a temporary basis for business (visa category B-1) or tourism (visa category B-2) or a combination of both which is (B-1/B-2)

Click here to learn more about the difference between a visa and a passport.

Activities permitted with a Business B-1 visa;

Estate settlement

Attending an educational, business convention, professional or scientific conference

Contracts negotiation

Business associates consultation.

Activities permitted with the Tourism B-2 visa

Vacation 

Medical treatment 

Enrolment in a short recreational course of study not for credit towards a degree eg a 2-day painting class or cooking class while on a vacation

Friends’ or relatives’ visitation

Participation by amateurs in sports or musicals or any other similar contest or events that you’re not being paid for.

Tourism 

Participation in social events that are all organised by service, fraternal or social organisations 

Activities not allowed on a visitor visa 

 Paid performances 

Journalists, foreign press in radio film or other information media worker

Employment

Permanent residence in the United States

Studying.

You also cannot apply for a visitor visa for birth tourism. You can not use a visitor visa for getting US citizenship for your child.

Document required for the visitor’s visa 

Non-immigrant visa application 

The receipt for the application fee payment 

Passport 

Photo

You may also require additional documents;

like documents to establish the purpose of your trip 

Document to show your intent to leave the United States after your trip 

 Proof of funds to pay for the cost of your trip.

Other information 

A valid US visa and an expired passport are still valued. Until its expiration date, the visa is still valid unless it has been revoked or cancelled. Do not remove your valid visa from your expired passport. You can still travel with your valid visa and your expired passport along with your new passport to the United States 

You are not permitted to get a job or accept employment on a visitor visa B1/B2

Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have your visa as there is no guarantee that a visa will be issued to you.

Now that visa validity has been extended, what part of the United States would you be travelling to?

Leave us a comment would love to hear from you.