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, FACT: The fee paid is an application processing fee, not a payment for a visa to be issued,” 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 noting that the fee covers the cost of processing an application through a final decision, irrespective of the outcome.
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.”
