There
is a premonition that the current President of the 'Divided States of
America' according to Times Magazine could halt the visa issuance to
Nigerians.
President Donald Trump
Except the federal government takes a proactive visa policy review,
Nigerians will no longer be issued with American entry visas which have
two-year validity following the Executive Order signed on Friday by
President Donald Trump, TheCable can report.
Also, Nigerians who hold dual nationality will be affected if their
other passport is from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and
Yemen - the seven Muslim-majority countries “of concern”.
A lot of attention has been on the temporary visa ban on citizens
of the seven Muslim-majority countries, but the impact on Nigerians is
far more than previously thought.
An analysis of the Executive Order by editors of the online news
platform shows that at least two sections will affect Nigerians
directly.
Nigeria currently only issues one-year multiple-entry visa to
Americans, which is a non-reciprocation of the two-year visa the country
issues to Nigerians.
Section 9 of the Executive Order states: “The Secretary of
State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to
ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly
reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and
fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C.
1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment.
"If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking
nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall
adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to
match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country,
to the extent practicable…”
By this provision, except the federal government quickly moves to
extend the validity of Nigerian visa to Americans, Nigerians too will be
issued with one-year visas.
Given that the Trump order takes immediate effect, Nigerians
holding valid two-year US visa are most likely going to be affected.
Nigeria is also not reciprocating the fees charged by the American government — despite shorter visa validity.
While the US charges Nigerians $160 for a typical visit visa, Nigeria charges $180, in addition to a $35 “processing fee”.
The section on dual nationality involving seven Muslim-majority
countries is not expected to affect a significant number of Nigerians
because a second citizenship of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia
and Yemen is not common.
Many Nigerians, including government officials, hold dual
nationality with either the US or Europe. However, Nigerians who have
been to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen in recent
times may be subjected to extra immigration control with possible
deportation.
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