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Claim: A social media user on X, @Kofi_pk41, claims the US embassy refuses to refund visa fees in Nigeria, unlike in Ghana.
Verdict: False! U.S. visa application fees are non-refundable in both Nigeria and Ghana.
Full Text
A recent social media post by @Kofi_pk41 on X claims that U.S. visa fees are refundable for Nigerians but not for Ghanaians.
Taking to the digital platform on Aug 3, 2025, he wrote,
“There’s a reason why a US Visa is refundable in Nigeria and not in Ghana. There’s a reason why DSTV prices are lower in Nigeria and not in Ghana. Even when people are cheating you in your face, we’ll either behave so lukewarm or turn it into some new form of elitism.”
The statement garnered 214.3k views, nearly 100 comments, and 3.5k likes among growing bookmarks.
Some users readily accepted the statement urging Ghanaians to rise up and fight for their rights, attributing their timidity to being cheated on in numerous instances.
Check out some of the comments below:
Kojo: “Ah, US visa is refundable in Nigeria? I thought it was common practice o, ei”
TeduaHene Tutu II of Tema, @ghosttweetor: “You wake up and tweet any bs. Which U.S are you talking about?”
Joseph: Soft Boy Era @jyfrimpong: “Are Nigerians aware that a US Visa is refundable in their country?”
Mr. Dramani® @TankoD6595: “Did you just say that the U.S. visa fee is refundable in Nigeria out of experience or out of imagination?”
DUBAWA had to investigate the accuracy of this statement regarding visa fee policies in both countries due to its capability to misinform the public.
Verification
DUBAWA’s research showed that the U.S. non-immigrant visa application fees, often referred to as the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee, are consistently described as non-refundable and non-transferable by the U.S. Embassies in Nigeria and Ghana.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have stated unequivocally on their website that “Visa applicants, including children, are required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee, sometimes referred to as the MRV fee, before applying for a non-immigrant visa. The visa application fee must be paid whether a visa is issued or not. The type of visa for which you apply determines the fee amount…”
In Nigeria, the fee is set at $185 for the most common non-immigrant visas (e.g., B1/B2), payable in local currency, and remains non-refundable as per U.S. Consulate guidelines effective 2025.
Similarly, in Ghana, the same $185 fee applies, with clear statements from the U.S. Embassy confirming its non-refundable nature. No exceptions are noted for standard applications.
There is no evidence of a pilot program or special policy in either country allowing refunds under normal circumstances.
Conclusion
The claim that U.S. visa fees are refundable in Nigeria but not in Ghana is false. Both countries follow the same U.S. policy where visa application fees are non-refundable, debunking any notion of differential treatment concerning refundability.
