The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that visa application fees paid by Nigerians are non-refundable, whether the visa is approved or denied.
The Mission gave the clarification on Wednesday in a post on its official X account, @USinNigeria, while addressing what it described as a common myth among applicants.
“MYTH: If a U.S. visa application is refused, the applicant receives a refund,” the Mission stated.
It explained that the money paid by applicants is not a payment for a visa, but a processing fee to cover the administrative cost of handling the application to a final decision.
“FACT: The fee paid is an application processing fee, not a payment for a visa to be issued. It covers the cost of processing the application through a final decision, so the fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the visa is issued or refused,” it added.
According to the Mission, payment of the fee does not guarantee that a visa will be issued, as every application is assessed on its own merit.
The Mission also urged prospective travellers to seek information only from official U.S. government sources, particularly http://travel.state.gov, and to avoid third-party agents or consultants who promise guaranteed visas or claim that fees are refundable.
It advised applicants to rely strictly on websites ending with “.gov” for accurate information on U.S. visa procedures.
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