By Gilbert Ekugbe
The US Mission Nigeria has clarified that visa application fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether an applicant is granted or refused a visa.
The mission made this known in a post shared on its official social media account, @USinNigeria on Wednesday, while debunking the belief that applicants are entitled to a refund if their visa applications are unsuccessful.
“MYTH: If a U.S. visa application is refused, the applicant receives a refund,” the mission stated.
Clarifying the issue, it said the fee paid by applicants covers the processing of their applications and does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.
“FACT: The fee paid is an application processing fee, not a payment for a visa to be issued,” the statement read.
The mission explained that the fee covers the cost of processing an application through a final decision, irrespective of the outcome.
“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.
The clarification serves as a reminder to prospective travellers that payment of the required visa application fee does not guarantee approval.
The mission also urged members of the public to seek accurate information on U.S. visa procedures through the official website of the U.S. Department of State at travel.state.gov.
Officials also urge visa seekers to beware of third-party “consultants” or fraud schemes promising “guaranteed visas” or “refundable application deposits.”
Applicants are advised to rely strictly on official U.S. government websites ending
