US Embassy Revokes Issued Visas Without Warning
The US Embassy in Nigeria has quietly begun cancelling visas it had already issued, leaving professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and families stranded. Many say their travel plans have collapsed, forcing them into unexpected financial losses and emotional distress.
This development first surfaced through an article by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., titled “The Quiet Revocation: Why is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?”. In it, he revealed that he personally reviewed at least eight cancellation letters. Each instructed passport holders to submit their documents in Lagos or Abuja. Once submitted, their visas were revoked without further explanation.
Title 22 Cited, But No Clear Explanation
The cancellation notices referenced Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, vaguely stating that “new information became available after the visa was issued.” No further evidence was provided. No appeal process was outlined. The only advice: reapply.
For many Nigerians, this has meant sudden disruption. A journalist missed an international assignment. The head of a federal parastatal lost the chance to deliver an address abroad. An Abuja entrepreneur with a spotless travel history had to refund tickets and cancel meetings. Families seeking to reunite or access medical care in the US were also blocked.
Some travellers only discovered their visas had been revoked at the airport. In certain cases, they were stopped at boarding gates, briefly detained, and sent home — a process many described as humiliating.
Embassy and Government Silence Deepens Frustration
So far, both the US Embassy and the Nigerian government have remained silent. This lack of communication has fuelled anger among affected Nigerians, many of whom stress that they never overstayed visas, violated US laws, or triggered security concerns.
Still on visa matters, iNaijanow recently reported on the US government’s introduction of a $15,000 refundable bond requirement for certain Nigerian business visas, highlighting the trend of tightening immigration measures.
Analysts Link Cancellations to Stringent US Immigration Policy
Observers say the cancellations are not isolated incidents but part of a broader stringent immigration policy. For years, Nigerian travellers have faced heightened scrutiny as nationals of a high-migration country. Past US policy documents encouraged consular officers to apply group profiling rather than individual assessments — a practice analysts believe is still in play.
Olufemi Soneye insists that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs must act, urging it to demand explanations, issue formal protests, and protect citizens from arbitrary treatment. Without this, he warns, Nigerians abroad will remain vulnerable.
Lives Disrupted, Questions Unanswered
The fallout is already severe:
- Trips cancelled
- Families separated
- Careers disrupted
- Lives put on hold
Beyond inconvenience, this raises larger questions: What does the US really want? If there are genuine security concerns, Nigerians deserve clarity. Cryptic references to “new information” are not enough between two nations that claim partnership. Until transparency comes from both sides, uncertainty will continue to hang over every Nigerian visa holder.
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