In early July 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) revised its visa reciprocity schedule for many countries. For many of those countries the changes reduced the validity period as well as the numbers of entries of nonimmigrant visas. In many cases the validity period was reduced to three months, often single-entry. The move affects many categories, including categories relevant to religious workers, including R-1, R-2, H, and for seminarians, F. One prime example is the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria which published that most “non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens would be limited to single entry and three months’ validity for visas issued on or after July 8, 2025.”¹

What is a visa?

A visa is an official document, issued by a country’s government, that permits foreign nationals to request entry for a specific purpose and duration. While not all foreign nationals need a visa to seek admission to the United States, for those who do, it is important to understand that in the U.S. system, a visa and immigration status (admission) are related but distinct concepts.

A visa is issued by a U.S. Consulate or Embassy, and it is usually a stamp affixed in the foreign national’s passport that allows for the foreign national to seek admission at a U.S. port of entry and request admission in a particular category (e.g. R-1, F1). It shows how long that visa is valid for and how many times the foreign national can use it to request entry (single or multiple). The admission is granted when the foreign national arrives at the port of entry and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues an I-94 records that shows the foreign nationals immigration status and for how long that foreign national may remain in the United States.²

What is the reciprocity schedule?

U.S. law and the Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual direct the DOS to issue visa validity periods, number of entries, and applicable visa issuance fees “based on what that country provides to U.S. citizens for the same purpose of travel. The goal of visa reciprocity is to obtain visa regimes consistent with U.S. laws, regulations, and national interests and to encourage international travel that benefits U.S. travelers and business."³ The DOS periodically reviews and updates these reciprocity schedules.

Which countries are affected?

As mentioned, in early July 2025, the DOS revised its visa reciprocity schedule for many countries, with several seeing a reduction in either the number of permitted entries or the visa validity period. The following is a list of countries that have been affected by the recent reciprocity schedule changes: Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This list is not necessarily exhaustive, and validity periods may vary. Foreign nationals and petitioning organizations should consult the U.S. State Department of State’s reciprocity schedule, or the relevant U.S. Consulate’s website, to obtain the most current information. Per the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), “over 50 countries have been affected but not all countries that have changed have the same limitations/changes.”⁴ For this reason, it is imperative to monitor these updates closely.

What are the practical effects?

If a country’s reciprocity entry for a related nonimmigrant category has been changed; for example, to a three-month single-entry visa, a foreign national who needs to travel outside the United States will likely have to obtain a new consular visa stamp each time they leave the United States, even for short trips. This may involve submitting the required form to the DOS, paying the applicable fees, and attending an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

What can the foreign national and/or petitioning organization do?

As the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria published, “…visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change[s] at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.”⁵ The foreign national and/or petitioning organization can:

• Check the DOS country reciprocity page for the foreign national’s country before travel.
• Plan travel conservatively. If travel is necessary, plan for possible delays and additional costs.
• Seek expert immigration advice. If you have a RIS immigration attorney, contact your attorney before travel. If you do not have an attorney, we recommend you seek expert legal advice. For information on CLINIC Affiliates you may visit: Find a Local Affiliate.

You can view the latest information on visa reciprocity schedules for all countries at U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.

Please reach out to your assigned RIS attorney with any questions or concerns.

¹ U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria, Nonimmigrant Visa Reciprocity Updates. U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, https://ng.usembassy.gov/revised-visa-reciprocity-policy-for-nigeria/ (last visited September 21, 2025).
² In some cases, an I-94 may be issued by USCIS. E.g. when the foreign national is already in the United States and an extension or change of status has been granted.
³ See, 9 Fam 403.8, and INA 221(c).
⁴ See, AILA, Practice Alert: DOS Updates Reciprocity Schedule for Many Countries (AILA Doc. No. 25072204) (07/22/25).
⁵ U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria, Nonimmigrant Visa Reciprocity Updates. U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, https://ng.usembassy.gov/revised-visa-reciprocity-policy-for-nigeria/ (last visited September 21, 2025).