The United States Embassy in Nigeria has introduced significant changes to its immigration visa application process.
Starting January 1, 2025, applicants with scheduled interviews must visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the updated procedure.
Lagos Visits Now Mandatory for Visa Applicants
According to an official statement posted on the embassy’s X page, the new process ensures thorough preparation and aims to minimize delays. The announcement noted: 
“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.”
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the New Process
Details on the embassy’s website explain the two mandatory visits:
1) First Visit: In-Person Document Review
The initial step involves an in-person review of documents with consular staff. This review ensures that applicants have all the required paperwork for their visa interview. The embassy elaborated:
“This review allows applicants to retrieve any missing documents ahead of their visa interviews, helping to avoid delays in application processing.”
2) Second Visit: Visa Interview with a Consular Officer
The second phase is the actual visa interview, conducted by a Consular Officer. The National Visa Center (NVC) will schedule the appointment.
The embassy warned that applicants who fail to complete the document review before their interview will need to reschedule their appointments.
Enhancing Efficiency in Visa Processing
These changes follow earlier updates announced in July 2024. At that time, the embassy revealed plans to transition to a new visa services provider for its Abuja and Lagos consulates, effective August 26, 2024.
The embassy described the new system as a critical step toward improving operational efficiency.
Applicant Awareness and Compliance
The embassy has urged applicants to familiarize themselves with the revised requirements to avoid setbacks. By addressing incomplete documentation beforehand, this dual-visit system aims to streamline the overall visa process.
For applicants, preparation remains the key to navigating these changes successfully. Will this updated approach reduce processing delays as intended? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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