The United States Embassy in Lagos has clarified that visas granted to foreign nationals are a privilege, not a right. This statement was made in response to an inquiry about the revocation of Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s visa. The embassy emphasized that visas can be revoked at any time at the discretion of the US government, citing the authority contained in the US Department of State regulations.
According to Julia McKay, Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Department of State, US Consulate General in Lagos, “Visas are a privilege, not a right. Every country, including the United States, can determine who enters its borders. Visas may be revoked at any time, at the discretion of the U.S. government, whenever circumstances warrant.”
This policy is not unique to Soyinka’s case, as the US government has consistently maintained that visa issuance is a privilege. The US Consulate General in Lagos requested that Soyinka bring his visa to the embassy for physical cancellation, which Soyinka described as “humorous.” The Nobel laureate has been asked to apply again if he plans to travel to the United States, as his non-immigrant visa has been revoked.
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