Victoria Mbangwa
In a move aimed at improving the efficiency of its visa processing system, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has unveiled a new requirement for immigrant visa applicants.
Starting January 1, 2025, individuals scheduled for interviews will need to visit the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during their application process, a significant shift designed to reduce delays and enhance preparedness.
The announcement, made via the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday, outlines the revised procedure. According to the statement, the new process is intended to better equip applicants for their interviews and to minimize the chances of delays due to incomplete documentation or other issues.
The post reads, “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.
“The review allows applicants to retrieve any missing documents ahead of their visa interviews, helping to avoid delays in application processing.
“The second interview, on the other hand, is with a Consular Officer. The date for this interview will be scheduled for applicants by the National Visa Center (NVC).
“If you do not complete the In-Person Document Review before your visa interview, you will be required to reschedule your appointment.”
This new protocol comes on the heels of a significant restructuring of the embassy’s visa operations. In July 2024, the embassy announced that a new visa services provider would be handling its operations in both the Abuja and Lagos consulates, starting August 26, 2024.
The change is part of the embassy’s ongoing efforts to streamline visa services and address increasing demand for U.S. visas in Nigeria.
