For many Nigerians chasing the “Japa” dream, every application comes with an unspoken warning: the money you spend is money you must be ready to lose. The visa you seek may never be granted, and the hundreds of thousands paid out will not come back as a refund.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria restated this reality on Tuesday, reminding applicants that visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, even when applications are denied, especially now that visa applications have become more steeply.

The reminder followed growing complaints from Nigerians, especially students and visitors, who lament the financial burden of repeated denials without any reimbursement.

“We hear your concerns regarding U.S. visa application fees. Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing the application, regardless of the outcome,” the Embassy wrote on its official X handle, using the hashtag #VisaWiseTravelSmart.

“While fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, each application is reviewed thoroughly and fairly. For best results, prepare your application carefully and use the resources on our website.”

Also Read: US embassy explains why Nigerians’ visas are being revoked

For context, the standard non-immigrant visa fee is $185 (around ₦280,000). This covers tourist, business, student, and exchange visas. Work and religious visas cost $190, while K visas cost $265, and E visas are priced at $205. With Nigeria’s minimum wage standing at ₦30,000, one application can swallow up nearly ten months of income, making every attempt at “Japa” a costly gamble. For many applicants, multiple reapplications have drained savings or left them indebted.

The Embassy also used the opportunity to remind Nigerians to schedule visa interviews in their country of residence and to adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to “public” as part of identity and security vetting. This, officials say, is part of broader checks to establish admissibility under U.S. law.

Beyond fees, a bigger hurdle looms: a recent Presidential Proclamation on national security, which took effect on June 9, 2025. Under the order, visa issuance and entry into the U.S. are suspended or restricted for nationals of certain countries identified as security risks. Nigerians who fall under this category may still apply and attend interviews, but they could remain ineligible for issuance despite paying full fees.

This combination of high costs, strict vetting, and shifting U.S. immigration policies is forcing many Nigerians to weigh their chances more carefully. For families scraping together funds for their children’s education abroad, or young professionals seeking better opportunities, the stakes are no longer just about approval or denial; it’s about whether the dream is worth the financial risk.

For Japa hopefuls, the lesson is becoming clear: every application is not just paperwork but a bet. And in this game, the house, the embassy never refund.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri