The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced changes to its immigration visa procedures, effective January 1, 2025. Immigrant visa applicants will now be required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the process.
The embassy disclosed the directive on its official X page, stating, “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, you are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process. This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa.”
Details on the embassy’s website clarify that the first visit will involve an ‘In-Person Document Review’ with a consular staff member. This step ensures that applicants have all required documents ready for their visa interviews. The review also allows applicants to address any missing documentation in advance, minimizing delays in application processing.
The second visit will be a formal interview with a Consular Officer. The National Visa Center (NVC) will schedule this interview date for applicants. However, applicants who fail to complete the In-Person Document Review before their visa interview will need to reschedule their appointment.
In a related development, the US Embassy announced in July 2024 that its visa operations in Abuja and Lagos would transition to a new visa services provider starting August 26, 2024. The decision was shared via the embassy’s official website and verified social media channels.
These updates aim to streamline the visa process for Nigerian applicants and reduce delays in immigrant visa issuance.
