On Wednesday, the [United States Mission in Nigeria](https://ng.usembassy.gov/) posted on its official X account that the fee paid for a U.S. visa application is non‑refundable, no matter if the request is approved or rejected.
**MYTH:** "If a U.S. visa application is refused, the applicant receives a refund," the mission wrote. **FACT:** The charge is an application‑processing fee, not a payment for a visa to be issued. The statement clarified that the fee covers the administrative work up to a final decision and does not guarantee issuance of a visa.
**What does the fee cover?** The amount collected is used solely for reviewing the paperwork, conducting background checks and reaching a conclusive outcome. It is not a deposit that can be reclaimed after a denial.
**How should applicants obtain reliable information?** The mission directed prospective travellers to the official website of the [U.S. Department of State](https://www.state.gov/), specifically the visa portal at travel.state.gov, which ends in “.gov” and provides up‑to‑date guidance on requirements, fees and procedures.
**What risks should applicants avoid?** The post warned Nigerians against fraudulent schemes and third‑party consultants who promise guaranteed visas or refundable deposits. It emphasized that only information from official U.S. government domains should be trusted.
In summary, the United States Mission reiterated that visa application fees remain non‑refundable regardless of outcome and urged Nigerians to consult the official State Department site for accurate visa details.