Reps urge US govt to restore five-year multiple visa regime

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, charged the United States government with restoring the five-year multiple visa regime, which was recently reduced to three months by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The resolution came after the House considered and adopted a motion of urgent public interest submitted by Muhammad Mukhtar and four others during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Titled “Motion on the urgent need for the United States to review its visa policy in the light of Nigeria/US strategic partnership,” the lawmakers urged the House to speak in unison and demand a reversal of the new policy.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mukhtar said, “The House notes with concern the decision by the United States Department of State on July 8, 2025, to shorten Nigerian non-immigrant visa validity from the existing five-year multiple entry visa to a three-month single entry visa.

The House further notes that the imposed three-month single-entry visa will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, including business constraints, academic disruption and diaspora and family strain.”

He also argued that Nigeria looks forward to monthly remittances of US$1 bn via diaspora bonds, “A strategic objective that will be compromised if travel becomes complicated or uncertain.”

The sponsors also noted that the decision on the new visa regime was taken “Despite the longstanding, strategic, and historic relationship between Nigeria and the United States- a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared democratic values, robust bilateral cooperation and people-to-people engagement.”