Nigeria, Cameroon and Ethiopia hit by US cuts to visa duration.

The United States announces sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Cameroon, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveUS cuts visa validity for applicants from three African countries3 hours agoShareSaveChiamaka Enendu & Mansur AbubakarBBC News, Lagos & AbujaShareSaveAFP / Getty ImagesThe State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may changeThe United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Cameroon, Ethiopia and Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most travellers from those countries can enter.

The US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of the three countries will now be single-entry and valid for only three months.

It says this is part of a "global reciprocity realignment", a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

Nigeria also offers single-entry e-visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

However, US citizens can get visas of up to a year in Cameroon and 90 days in Ethiopia so it is not clear how the US announcement is reciprocal in those countries.