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US cuts visa validity for applicants from three African countries

July 10, 2025

The United States has implemented significant changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for citizens of Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, reducing most visas to single-entry with three-month validity as part of a "global reciprocity realignment. " Nigeria has expressed concern that these restrictions could hinder cultural and educational exchanges that form the foundation of US-Nigeria relations. While the US claims this change aims to achieve reciprocity, questions arise about the equivalence since US citizens can obtain visas of up to a year in Cameroon and 90 days in Ethiopia.

Who is affected

  • Citizens of Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Nigeria seeking non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to the United States
  • Nigerian students pursuing education in the US (Nigeria being the seventh largest source of international students to the US)
  • Cultural and educational exchange participants between the US and these three countries
  • Young Nigerians seeking to leave Nigeria (part of the "Japa" movement)

What action is being taken

  • The US Department of State is reducing non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for citizens of Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Nigeria to single-entry with three-month validity
  • The US government is working closely with authorities in the three countries to ensure they meet key international standards
  • The US is vetting social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas for signs of hostility toward US citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles
  • Nigerian government is expressing concern and calling for reconsideration of the visa restrictions

Why it matters

  • The restrictions could hamper cultural and educational exchanges that have long been a foundation of US-Nigeria relations
  • Nigeria was the seventh largest source of international students to the US and the highest in Africa, with a 13.5% increase from 2023
  • The policy change may reflect shifting diplomatic relationships between the US and these African nations
  • Young Nigerians seeking to leave the country through the "Japa" movement may face additional barriers to entering the US
  • The change represents a significant shift from previous visa terms that often allowed multiple entries over two years or more

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC