What You Need to Know About the New Visa Process at the US Embassy in Nigeria

The US Embassy in Nigeria has announced a shift in its immigrant visa protocol, which is set to be implemented on January 1, 2025.

In a message posted on its official X page on Tuesday, December 10, the embassy disclosed that candidates with scheduled interviews will now need to visit the Consulate General in Lagos two times throughout the visa procedure.

The communiqué stated, “For candidates with interviews slated after January 1, 2025, you are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least two times during the immigrant visa procedure.

“This new approach is designed to assist you in gearing up for your visa interview and to hinder significant holdups in processing your immigrant visa.”

Details on the embassy’s website indicate that the first visit will be for an In-Person Document Examination with a consular official.

The aim of this review is to verify that candidates possess all required documents ready for their visa interviews.

The second visit will entail the visa interview with a Consular Officer. This interview will be arranged by the National Visa Center (NVC).

The announcement further stated: “This examination guarantees that candidates are ready for their visa interviews.

“The review enables applicants to retrieve any incomplete documents prior to their visa interviews, aiding in the avoidance of delays in application processing.

“The subsequent interview, by contrast, is with a Consular Officer. The date for this meeting will be set for applicants by the National Visa Center (NVC).

The embassy also advised applicants, stating, “If you do not finish the In-Person Document Examination prior to your visa interview, you will need to reschedule your appointment.”