Washington: The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most travelers from those countries can enter.
According to Nam News Network, the US Department of State has stated that nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of these four countries will now be single-entry and valid for only three months. This marks a significant shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more, as part of a global reciprocity realignment.
US citizens currently receive visas of up to a year in Cameroon and 90 days in Ethiopia. While authorities in these two countries have not yet commented, a statement from the Ghanaian government revealed that over 28,500 multiple-entry visas have been issued to US citizens this year. The Ghanaian authorities expressed hope for an early resolution and solidarity with citizens affected by this change.
Nigeria’s government also voiced its concern, labeling the move as disproportionate and urging reconsideration. The restriction, they argued, could impede cultural and educational exchanges, which have traditionally underpinned US-Nigeria relations.
The State Department emphasized that visa policies remain subject to ongoing review and could change based on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks. The US government is reportedly collaborating with authorities in the three African nations to ensure compliance with key international standards.
Previously, the United States imposed even stricter measures on Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, suspending all immigrant and non-immigrant visas to citizens from these countries. Additionally, the US has mandated that social media accounts of all visa applicants be scrutinized for any indications of hostility toward the United States.
Nigeria was identified as the seventh largest source of international students to the US, and the highest in Africa, according to the 2024 Open Doors report on international education exchanges. The report, published by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, noted a 13.5% increase from 2023.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested that the US’s decision reflects displeasure with Nigeria’s growing global realignment, particularly its engagement with BRICS nations. Ahmad speculated that President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Brazil for a BRICS gathering may have influenced the US decision.
However, immigration lawyer Godwin Oke offered a different perspective, viewing the changes as a standard case of visa reciprocity under international diplomatic practice. He noted that while the US had been issuing Nigerians five-year multiple-entry visas, Nigeria only offered Americans short-term, single-entry visas, creating an imbalance that was likely to be addressed.
Earlier this year, the US mission in Nigeria warned that overstaying a visa could result in a permanent travel ban and potential criminal prosecution. Although no official data on Nigerian travelers overstaying their visas in the US is available, there is concern that the number of Nigerians obtaining US visas may decline under President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies.