The United States has announced a major change to its visa policy for Nigerians, reducing the validity and entry allowance for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas.

In a statement on Tuesday, July 8, the US Embassy in Nigeria said that most affected visas will now be limited to a single entry with just a three-month validity. The change takes immediate effect, though visas issued before July 8 will remain valid under their original terms.

The embassy explained that the new policy is part of its global visa reciprocity process, which aligns US visa rules with how its own citizens are treated by other countries. It added that visa policies are regularly reviewed and could lead to further adjustments in validity periods or entry allowances.

Nigeria still needs to meet certain criteria to improve its reciprocity standing, including issuing secure travel documents with verifiable identities, effectively managing visa overstays, and sharing security and criminal record information with US authorities.

“The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement said. Despite the stricter rules, the US reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong ties with Nigeria.

Earlier, the embassy also advised applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas—covering students and exchange visitors—to set their social media profiles to public. The measure is part of enhanced vetting aimed at verifying applicants’ identities and admissibility under US law.