By JKNewsMedia
NIGERIANS APPLYING for immigrant visas to the United States will face a new two-visit process at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos starting 1 January 2025.
This updated procedure, announced by the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday via its X handle, aims to streamline the visa application process and minimise delays caused by incomplete documentation.
Under the revised system, applicants with interviews scheduled on or after the implementation date must first attend an In-Person Document Review session.
The consular staff will assess all submitted documents during this visit.
Applicants will also have the opportunity to provide any missing paperwork before their visa interviews.
The embassy emphasised that no appointment is needed for this document review, as applicants will receive email notifications two to four weeks before their scheduled interview dates.
The second required visit will be for the visa interview itself.
The National Visa Center (NVC) will continue to set interview dates and times.
The embassy has warned that failing to complete the document review step before the interview will necessitate rescheduling.
“This process is designed to help applicants prepare adequately for their visa interviews and avoid unnecessary delays,” the embassy explained on its website.
In a related announcement, the U.S. Embassy disclosed that it transitioned to a new visa services provider for its Abuja and Lagos consulates on 26 August 2024.
This move, coupled with the updated process, underscores the embassy’s efforts to improve efficiency in visa services for Nigerian applicants.
The embassy urged applicants to adhere strictly to these revised procedures to ensure seamless processing of their immigrant visas.
