The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced changes to its immigration visa application process, set to take effect from January 1, 2025.
Under the new guidelines, applicants with scheduled interviews will now be required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the process.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the embassy explained, “Applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, must visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process. This update is aimed at helping applicants prepare for their visa interviews and reducing significant delays in visa processing.”
Details on the embassy’s website outline the two-step procedure. The first visit will involve an In-Person Document Review conducted by a consular staff member to ensure applicants have all required documents. This step allows applicants to address any missing documentation ahead of their visa interview, thereby minimizing potential delays.
The second visit will be the visa interview itself, conducted by a consular officer. This appointment will be scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC).
The embassy emphasized the importance of completing the document review before the interview. “If the In-Person Document Review is not completed before the visa interview, applicants will be required to reschedule their appointment,” the statement noted.
The new process aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency by addressing common issues with incomplete documentation.
