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- Travellers in spotlight face delays, more scrutiny
Travellers to the United States of America from Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Morocco and Ghana are now facing longer delays and higher scrutiny in their visa application amid a visa fee hike since October that have seen the number of countries affected rise with the addition of South Africa. Â
The visa fee now totals $435 to $439 and it comes with the implementation of new stringent vetting procedures that put the African nations in the spotlight which results in the delays and more scrutiny, per this report by Travel and Tour World (T&TW).
T&TW writes that as of October 2025, travellers from these countries now face higher application fees, mandatory biometric verification, and digital background checks, making it more difficult and costly to secure a visa for the United States. These changes have raised concerns about the impact on students, business professionals, and tourists, as they navigate more complex and financially burdensome processes to enter the US. The new requirements, including five years of social media history and real-time identity verification selfies, are part of the US’s broader strategy to tackle visa fraud and overstays.Â
However, the elevated fees and additional paperwork are seen as significant barriers, particularly for those from nations with limited access to financial resources. As these rules come into effect, the ripple effects are being felt not only by applicants but also by governments, diplomatic relations, and the broader US-Africa relationship.
As of October 2025, travellers from six African nations — South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and Zimbabwe — are facing significant changes to their visa application process when attempting to enter the United States. These nations are now subject to higher fees and more stringent vetting procedures, creating new hurdles for travelers. This article delves into the specifics of these changes, the impact on applicants, and the broader implications for travel and diplomatic relations.
Visa fee hike and enhanced security measures
The US Department of States has introduced a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, along with stringent digital and biometric requirements that have drastically increased the total visa application cost for travelers from the affected countries. The new system mandates that applicants provide comprehensive personal information, including five years of social media history, ten years of email records, and phone histories, in addition to biometric data such as a live selfie. These changes are part of an effort to combat visa fraud, prevent overstays, and enhance identity verification.
The total visa application cost for citizens of the affected countries now ranges between $435 to $439, which includes:
- $185 base application fee
- $250 Visa Integrity Fee
- $4 I-94 arrival/departure processing fee
While these measures are touted as necessary for improving security, they have placed an additional financial and bureaucratic burden on travelers, particularly those from African countries with limited access to financial resources.
Impact on African countries
The new visa fee and vetting system have wide-ranging effects across Africa, and the following sections outline the specific impacts on two of the six affected nations:
South Africa
South African applicants are now required to pay the full Integrity Fee and adhere to the new biometric and digital verification processes. Although there were rumors of a Visa Waiver Program for South Africa, travelers must still comply with the new rules. This has led to longer processing times and higher costs for applicants, affecting students, tourists, and business visitors. Despite the inconvenience, many South Africans are left with few options, as the United States remains a popular destination for business, education, and tourism.
Nigeria
Nigeria has been particularly affected by the tightening of US visa rules due to its high visa overstay rates. Nigerian applicants now face not only the increased visa fee but also the imposition of additional hurdles. Due to the country’s visa overstay problem, many Nigerian applicants are subject to a Partial Entry Ban, which means they may be denied entry even if their visa applications are approved. This additional layer of scrutiny adds to the already substantial processing delays and financial burden on Nigerian travellers.
Broader implications for US visa policies
The introduction of these new regulations is part of a broader shift in US immigration policy, which aims to reduce visa fraud, overstays, and irregular migration. By introducing digital and biometric vetting, the US government is enhancing its ability to monitor and track travelers more effectively. However, critics argue that these measures disproportionately affect travelers from poorer nations, who may not have the necessary resources to comply with these stringent requirements.
The visa fee hike and additional vetting measures are likely to have a significant impact on diplomatic relations between the United States and the affected African nations. Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have already introduced reciprocal measures, including visa restrictions or stricter controls for US citizens, which could lead to further diplomatic tension. Meanwhile, African governments have voiced concerns that these policies could strain their citizens’ ability to travel to the US for business, education, and tourism, potentially stifling opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Concerns over diplomatic relations
As the US visa policies tighten, there are growing concerns that diplomatic relations with African countries could suffer. The financial burden of the new fees, combined with the complexity of the application process, could discourage many potential travelers from applying for US visas. For many African nations, the US is a critical destination for trade, business, education, and tourism, and these new regulations could hinder growth in these areas.
Digital shift in immigration policies
The move toward increased digital and biometric verification reflects a broader trend in global immigration policy. As countries around the world adopt more advanced technologies to monitor and control immigration, travelers are facing more scrutiny than ever before. While these measures may help enhance security, they also raise significant concerns about privacy, data security, and the potential for discrimination.
For many African travelers, the burden of these new rules is significant. The requirement to provide years of social media history, email records, and phone logs could be seen as an invasion of privacy, especially for those who are already financially strained. Critics argue that such measures will disproportionately affect individuals from poorer backgrounds and could lead to further marginalization of certain groups.
As the United States implements these changes to its visa policies, travelers from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and Zimbabwe are left grappling with the implications of the new requirements. For many, the higher fees and longer processing times will create significant barriers to travel, impacting everything from business and education to family reunification.
South Africa joins Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Morocco, and Ghana as the US visa fee hike, now ranging from $435 to $439, and new vetting measures create longer delays and stricter scrutiny for travelers. These changes, aimed at reducing visa fraud and overstays, have placed significant financial and bureaucratic burdens on applicants, particularly from African nations.
The situation highlights the growing tensions between national security concerns and the right to travel, and it remains to be seen whether these measures will lead to lasting change in US-Africa relations or if they will spark a new era of visa diplomacy.
