If you’re planning to travel to the United States from Nigeria, one of the first things you need to do is pay the U.S visa fee.
This fee is required for all non-immigrant visa applications, and it can be paid online or in-person at designated banks. I will guide you through the step-by-step process of how to pay US visa fee in Nigeria.
One of the easiest ways to pay the US visa fee in Nigeria is through GTBank’s online bill pay service.
If you have an account with GTBank, you can choose to pay your visa application fee online using GTBank’s online bill pay service. It is important to note that you must correctly type your payment code (also called a UID) into the online payment form when you pay your fee online.
You can also pay your US visa fees at any GTBank branch nationwide or make payment via their Internet Banking Portal, which is available 24/7.
Another option to pay the US visa fee is through the US Embassy’s website. You can learn about obtaining a visa, as well as applying for your visa, at the USTravelDocs website. You can also schedule your interview at a US Embassy or Consulate General through this website.
However, it is important to note that you must pay the visa fee before scheduling your interview.
The US Visa Fee
If you are planning to apply for a US visa, it is important to understand the visa fee structure. The visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, is a non-refundable, non-transferable fee that must be paid before applying for a nonimmigrant visa. The fee must be paid whether a visa is issued or not.
The amount of the visa fee varies depending on the type of visa for which you are applying. For example, as of October 2023, the fee for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa is $160, while the fee for an H-1B temporary worker visa is $190.
You can check the fee schedule on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate website for Nigeria to see the current fees for different visa categories.
It is important to note that the visa fee is subject to change without notice, so it is a good idea to check the fee schedule before applying for your visa.
To pay the visa fee, you can either pay online using your debit card or pay in person at a GTBank branch. If you choose to pay in person, you will need to bring a printed copy of the visa fee payment slip, which you can obtain after completing the online payment process.
Once you have paid the visa fee, you will need to schedule an appointment for your visa interview. Keep in mind that the visa fee is separate from the visa application fee, which you will need to pay if your visa is approved.
Methods of Payment
If you are planning to apply for a US visa in Nigeria, you will need to pay the visa application fee. Here are the methods of payment available to you:
Cash Payment at GTBank
Nonimmigrant visa applicants without a GTBank account can pay their visa application fee in cash at any GTBank branch.
At the bank, you must write your fee payment amount and your telephone number on the U.S. visa fee collection slip available at the bank. After processing payment, the bank will generate a receipt.
Online Payment
You can also pay your US visa fee online using a debit card or through online banking. To pay online, visit the US Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center website and follow the instructions.
You will need to create an account, fill out the DS-160 form, and schedule an appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate in Nigeria. After scheduling your appointment, you can pay your visa application fee online.
Mobile Money
You can use mobile money services to pay your US visa fee in Nigeria. Some of the mobile money services accepted by the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria include Paga, PocketMoni, and Etranzact.
Bank Draft
If you have a bank account in Nigeria, you can pay your US visa fee by bank draft. You will need to visit your bank and request a bank draft payable to “US Embassy Abuja” or “US Consulate General Lagos.” After obtaining the bank draft, you can bring it to your visa appointment.
Third-Party Payment
You can also use a third-party payment service to pay your US visa fee in Nigeria. One such service are fintech payment apps in Nigeria, which allows you to pay your visa application fee using your debit card or bank transfer. Your preferred fintech app will then pay the fee on your behalf and provide you with a receipt.
How to Pay at a Bank
If you prefer to pay your US visa fee at a bank, you can do so by following these steps:
- First, you need to obtain a bank deposit slip. You can download and print the deposit slip from the US visa application website or pick up a copy at the bank.
- Fill out the deposit slip with your personal information, including your name, passport number, and the visa category you are applying for.
- Take the completed deposit slip and the visa application fee in cash to any of the designated banks. The banks authorized to collect US visa application fees in Nigeria include GTBank, Zenith Bank, and First Bank.
- After paying the fee, the bank will give you a receipt. Make sure to keep this receipt as proof of payment.
- Finally, you need to wait for 24-48 hours for the payment to be processed before you can schedule your visa interview.
It’s important to note that you should only pay the visa fee at the bank after you have completed and submitted your DS-160 form online.
Additionally, you should make sure to pay the exact fee amount as indicated on the US visa application website, as the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Overall, paying the US visa fee at a bank can be a convenient option for those who prefer to pay in cash or do not have access to online payment methods.
Online Payment
Setting Up an Online Account
To pay your US visa fee online in Nigeria, you need to set up an account on the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website. Go to ceac.state.gov/ceac/ and click on “Sign In” in the top right corner. If you don’t have an account, click on “Create an Account” and follow the instructions to create one.
Once you have created your account, you will need to fill out the DS-160 form and pay the visa application fee.
You can pay the fee online using your credit card or by using the GTBank Internet Banking Portal, which is available 24/7.
Making the Payment
To make the payment, log in to your CEAC account and click on “Pay Now” on the “Summary” page. You will be directed to the payment page where you can select your payment method. If you choose to pay by credit card, enter your card details and click on “Submit”. If you choose to pay through the GTBank Internet Banking Portal, select “GTBank” as your payment method and follow the instructions to complete the payment.
After you have made the payment, print out the payment confirmation page and bring it with you to your visa interview. If you have any issues with making the payment online, you can also pay the fee in cash at any GTBank branch. To do this, you must write your fee payment amount and your telephone number on the U.S. visa fee collection slip available at the bank. After processing payment, the bank will generate a receipt.
Paying your US visa fee online is a convenient and secure way to complete the application process. Just make sure to follow all the instructions carefully and keep a record of your payment confirmation.
Payment Through Mobile Money
If you prefer to pay your US visa fee using your mobile phone, you can do so through mobile money services such as Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, or Glo Mobile Money. Here’s how to pay your US visa fee through mobile money:
- First, make sure that your mobile money account has enough funds to cover the US visa fee. You can check your balance by dialing the appropriate code on your phone.
- Next, visit the official US visa application website and log in to your account.
- Click on “Schedule Appointment” and select the visa category that applies to you.
- Follow the prompts to fill out the visa application form. Make sure to enter your personal and contact information accurately.
- When you get to the payment section, select “Mobile Money” as your payment method.
- You will be redirected to the mobile money payment portal. Follow the prompts to complete the payment process.
- Once your payment is confirmed, you will receive a payment receipt and a confirmation number.
- Print out the payment receipt and confirmation number and bring them with you to your visa interview.
It’s important to note that you should only pay your US visa fee through authorized payment channels. Be wary of scams and fraudulent websites that claim to offer visa payment services. Always double-check the website URL and make sure that you are on the official US visa application website before entering any personal or payment information.
Paying your US visa fee through mobile money is a convenient option for those who don’t have access to a bank account or prefer to use their mobile phone for transactions. Just make sure to follow the steps carefully and keep your payment receipt and confirmation number handy.
Confirmation and Receipt
Once you have paid your US visa fee at the bank, you will receive a payment receipt. This receipt is very important and you should keep it safe because you will need it to schedule your visa appointment at the U.S embassy or consulate in Nigeria.
After you have paid the visa fee, it may take up to two business days for the payment to be processed. Once your payment has been processed, you can go ahead and schedule your visa appointment using the payment receipt number.
To schedule your visa appointment, you will need to visit the U.S embassy or consulate website and follow the instructions provided. You will need to create an account, provide your payment receipt number, and select a date and time for your visa interview.
During the visa interview, you will need to present your payment receipt and any other required documents. If your visa is approved, your passport will be returned to you with the visa stamp. If your visa is denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason for the denial.
It is important to note that the visa fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is denied. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you meet all the requirements and provide all the necessary documents before applying for a US visa.
Overall, paying your US visa fee is a simple process that can be completed at any GTBank or Zenith Bank branch in Nigeria. Just remember to keep your payment receipt safe and follow the instructions provided to schedule your visa appointment.
