The United States has discontinued the drop box visa renewal service in Nigeria, requiring all applicants to undergo in-person interviews.
Reports indicate that the drop box option, which allowed eligible applicants to renew their visas without an interview, has been removed from the US visa appointment booking system in Nigeria. Although the US Embassy has not released an official statement, many applicants have noticed the absence of the service while scheduling their renewals.
Sources suggest the decision may be linked to previous US immigration policies, particularly those introduced under former President Donald Trump, which affected visa processing globally.
The removal of the drop box service comes amid an increasing backlog of visa applications, with some Nigerians previously facing delays of nearly a year to secure appointments. Until recently, the service was no longer available in Lagos, forcing applicants to travel to Abuja. Now, with its complete removal, all applicants must appear for in-person interviews, effectively returning to pre-2020 procedures.
The drop box service, officially known as the Interview Waiver Program, was initially designed to simplify renewals for eligible travelers, including those whose visas had expired within 24 months. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the US expanded eligibility to those whose visas had expired within 48 months, reducing the need for physical interactions.
However, this is not the first time the service has been suspended. In 2018, during Trump’s first administration, it was halted due to concerns over visa overstays by Nigerian travelers. The recent policy shift means all Nigerian applicants—business travelers, students, and frequent visitors—must now attend in-person interviews, potentially extending visa processing delays.
