The U.S Embassy has unveiled new guidelines for visa interview prerequisites for applicants from Nigeria, which will become effective on April 22, 2025.
In a memo released on Friday, April 11, the U.S. mission specified that all individuals scheduled for interviews at its offices in Abuja and Lagos must present a DS-160 visa application form featuring a confirmation barcode that starts with “AA” followed by two zeroes (00). This barcode needs to correspond precisely with the one utilized during the appointment booking process.
The embassy noted that failing to provide a matching DS-160 barcode will lead to refusal of entry into the Consular Section and disqualification from the appointed visa interview. They emphasized the critical nature of alignment between the DS-160 form and interview details, encouraging applicants to verify their information for accuracy at least two weeks prior to their interview date.
- Maths No Longer a Compulsory Subject For Art Students in WAEC – FG
Nigerian senior secondary school pupils in the arts and humanities will no longer need to achieve a credit in maths in their Senior School Certificate Examination, overseen by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council, as a prerequisite for university and polytechnic admission, announced the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday. - CBN Moves To Improve ATM Downtime and Long Queues
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is urging banks and independent ATM operators to optimize their distribution networks. A draft regulation unveiled in October 2025 outlines the authority’s efforts to enhance ATM availability in a nation where downtime and lengthy wait times have become common.
Additionally, the embassy stated that previously submitted DS-160 forms cannot be reused. If applicants find discrepancies with the barcode, they must log into their AVITS account at least 10 days before the interview and submit a support ticket to seek a correction.
Applicants are also required to ensure that their interview appointment aligns with the location indicated on the DS-160 form. Those denied entry due to mismatched information will need to correct the issue and reschedule their interview. If the original visa payment has lapsed by the time of rebooking, a new fee may be required.
Since January 1, all applicants have been mandated to attend the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the revised visa application process. The embassy highlighted that these initiatives are intended to streamline the application process and uphold consistency in documentation.