A medical visa is a category of visa needed to embark on medical tourism to the United States of America. Medical Tourism is the process of traveling out of your home country to seek medical treatment or healthcare services from foreign doctors and hospitals.  Requiring a medical visa to the US from Nigeria is born out of a patient’s need for quality and sophisticated facilities, equipment, and doctors.

Compared to the declining state of Hospitals in countries like Nigeria, the ever-growing rate of people with conditions that require sophisticated equipment and specialists has given rise to the need for Medical Tourism in today’s world. Data from Global Healthcare Accreditation shows that in 2017 alone, 15,000 patients from Nigeria traveled abroad for Orthopedics, cardiology, and cancer treatment.

Although the inconsistent value of the dollar has made US medical visas for Nigerians more difficult for patients who need to travel for medical care, it also has contributed to the rise of a less expensive option, Second Opinion Service. Second Opinion is when another doctor, who is different from the patient’s known doctor, reviews the patient’s medical records and gives an opinion about the patient’s health condition and treatment. (To learn more about getting a second opinion, visit https://medvisit.com.ng/second-opinion/frequently-asked-questions/)

Requirements For American Medical Visa

 Some documents that you must carry along with you for the interview include. 

• International passport (for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the US)
• 1 passport photo (5cmx5cm), taken not more than six months ago
• DS 160 confirmation page
• Appointment confirmation page 
• Receipt (showing payment of your non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application processing fee)
• Copies of medical reports and/or diagnosis by the doctor treating you in Nigeria specifying your medical condition, demonstrating why you must undergo medical treatment in the US 
• Bank statements

Please understand that the above list is not exhaustive. The visa officer may ask you to submit other supporting documents that may vary, depending on your case.

Step by Step Process for Getting US medical visa for Nigerians

Obtaining a medical visa to the United States of America starts with eligibility. That means you must have a condition that requires medical attention. In this article, we will delve into each step one after the other.

Step 1: Hospital Selection

The first step in starting your medical tourism journey to the US is identifying a US-based hospital where a doctor is assigned to you for your treatment. For this step to be complete, you will need to have your medical records, test results, Scans, or whatever the physician may require of you. Medvisit Nigeria (https://medvisit.com.ng/process/) has partnered with top hospitals across four continents to ensure this process is seamless for patients and their family/friends seeking healthcare abroad.

Step 2: Online Application

To apply online for a visa to the US, applicants must go through the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) portal https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ to begin. Once you start your application, a confirmation number will be automatically generated, and then the applicant will have to select a preferred location for the interview (Lagos or Abuja). Passport details, the applicant’s personal information, travel details, US contact information, travel history, and security details will be entered along with a soft copy of the applicant’s passport photo to complete the process. After submission, applicants will have a confirmation page that can be sent by email or printed out.

Step 3: Visa Fee Payment

Visa applicants are required to pay a visa fee of $185 (naira equivalent) to GTBank. If you have a Guaranty Trust Bank account, This payment could be made by online or physically walking into the bank to deposit the cash. Information on how to opt for the online option can be found here. You must have your international passport handy when paying for your visa. It is also important to know that the category of visa you’re applying for when planning a medical trip is B-2. Information on visa categories to the US can be found here.

Step 4: Appointment Scheduling

After completing the DS 160 form and paying the visa fee, applicants are expected to schedule an appointment with the US embassy in Lagos or Abuja. This appointment can only be scheduled online by the applicant at US Travel Docs. If available dates are unsuitable for the patient, appointments can be expedited by simply applying for an expedited appointment. Once this process is completed, the appointment confirmation page will be printed and taken to the embassy on the appointed interview date.

Step 5: Attend the Interview 

Prepare for the interview by ensuring all necessary documents are available before the interview date. See list of documents above.

Step 6: Travel

After the visa application has been approved, the patient may travel on the day the flight has been scheduled. 
Getting medical treatment from doctors in the US requires careful planning and preparation. Medvisit Nigeria ensures the entire process goes smoothly for patients and their loved ones.

You can contact us via phone at +2349130247317 or visit  https://medvisit.com.ng/contact-us.