US Mission Alerts Nigerians to New Wave of Visa Scams

The United States Mission in Nigeria has raised a fresh alarm over an uptick in visa-related scams, warning applicants to be extremely cautious when dealing with unofficial intermediaries claiming to offer guaranteed approvals or faster processing.

The caution was issued on Monday through the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, where the Embassy stressed that it does not authorise third-party agents, does not demand payments through informal channels, and does not sell application forms.

According to the Mission, several fraudulent actors have continued to impersonate embassy officials, lure victims with job promises abroad, or request payments for fake “priority” slots. The Mission reiterated that no individual or organisation outside official U.S. government platforms can influence the outcome of a visa application.

The Embassy outlined clear indicators of fraud, noting that:

• Applicants will never be asked via phone or email to pay visa fees on non-official portals.

• No staff member can “guarantee” a visa in exchange for money.

• Application forms remain free and accessible only through government-controlled websites ending in .gov.

The Mission encouraged the public to cross-check any website or message before submitting personal data or making financial commitments.

The renewed alert comes at a time when several Western governments,including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are jointly warning about increasingly coordinated networks exploiting travellers and students seeking legitimate migration pathways.

With visa fraud becoming more sophisticated globally, authorities continue to caution prospective applicants to rely solely on verified channels and avoid unlicensed “consultants” who prey on desperation.