US Firms Spend N3bn on Permits for 880 Nigerian Workers in 2024 - Report

US companies spent at least N3.23 billion to sponsor 880 Nigerian professionals for H-1B specialty worker visas in the 2024 fiscal year. The data, obtained from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, revealed that the costs associated with H-1B sponsorship include various fees such as filing fees, fraud prevention fees, and training fees.

Nigerian applicants paid approximately N233 million in visa fees alone. Nigeria led African countries in H-1B visa issuance, accounting for 26.7% of Africa's total share.

However, Nigerian recipients represented only 0.4% of the 219,813 H-1B visas issued globally in the fiscal year 2024. India dominated the program with approximately 150,000 visas, followed by China with 31,900 visas.