Visa Guide: Nigeria to United States

Overview

Required Documents

• •Valid Nigerian passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay(Required)
• •Form I-20 (signed by you and your DSO)(Required)
• •SEVIS I-901 fee receipt(Required)Print from FMJfee.com after payment
• •DS-160 confirmation page with barcode(Required)
• •MRV fee payment receipt(Required)
• •Visa interview appointment confirmation(Required)
• •Recent passport-size photo (2x2 inch, white background)(Required)Must meet US visa photo specs; photographer in VI or Wuse can take this
• •University admission letter(Required)
• •Academic transcripts (WAEC, university transcript if applicable)(Required)
• •Standardized test scoresTOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, or SAT as required by your program
• •Bank statements for sponsor (last 6 months)(Required)
• •Sponsor employment letter and recent payslips(Required)
• •Sponsor tax filings (FIRS or state IRS)Strengthens credibility of declared income
• •Affidavit of support (if not self-funded)(Required)
• •Scholarship award letterRequired only if you claim scholarship funding
• •Evidence of ties to NigeriaProperty documents, family business registration, return employment offer

Work Rights

On-campus employment is permitted up to 20 hours per week during the academic term and full-time during official school breaks, with no separate authorization required. Off-campus work needs prior authorization through Curricular Practical Training (CPT, available after one academic year if your program requires it) or Optional Practical Training (OPT, up to 12 months after graduation, or 36 months total for STEM degrees with a qualifying employer enrolled in E-Verify). Working off-campus without authorization is grounds for SEVIS termination and visa cancellation.

Quick reference

Processing Time

Typical end-to-end timeline is 8 to 16 weeks from I-20 receipt: 1 to 2 weeks to pay SEVIS and complete DS-160, 2 to 6 weeks to secure an interview slot in Lagos or Abuja during peak season (April to August), and 3 to 5 working days for visa printing and DHL delivery if approved without administrative processing. Apply as early as your I-20 program start date allows (no earlier than 365 days before, and you can enter the US no earlier than 30 days before).

Application fee

SEVIS I-901: USD 350. MRV visa application fee: USD 185. Both paid in USD or NGN equivalent at the prevailing CBN rate. DHL passport return is included in the MRV fee at most posts. Approximate; verify current amounts on ustraveldocs.com and FMJfee.com before paying.

Financial Proof

You must demonstrate liquid funds covering tuition plus living expenses for at least the first academic year, matching the figures on your I-20. The Embassy looks for steady balances, not last-minute deposits. Six months of bank statements is the working norm; a single recent transfer into a sponsor's account is a common refusal trigger. Acceptable funding sources include parents' or guardians' bank statements with employment evidence, scholarship awards, education loans (Sallie Mae, MPower, or Nigerian banks like Access and GTBank), or a combination. If a parent or guardian is the sponsor, their declared income on tax filings should plausibly support the level of savings shown.