National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Funmi Ojo, OYO |
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a major update to its visa application process. Starting August 26, 2024, a new visa services provider will oversee consular operations in both Abuja and Lagos.
The Notice to Applicants read in part: Nigerian applicants who have already scheduled their visa appointments should take note of the following key updates: There will be no access to the U.S. travel website from August 16 onward; No additional steps are required for applicants with interviews scheduled on or before August 16; Applicants are advised to print their appointment confirmation letters before August 16: If unable to attend scheduled interviews, applicants should check back on or after August 26 for rescheduling instructions.
Key Dates to Remember are
August 8: Last day to pay visa fees in cash at the bank; August 15: Last day to access ustraveldocs.com for fee payment, appointment scheduling, and customer service; August 21: Last day for document drop-off at Premium Delivery locations.
Other days are August 23: Last day for document drop-off at regular courier locations; August 26: New visa appointment website goes live, allowing for fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service.
The embassy also advises applicants to schedule their appointments promptly if they have already paid their visa fees but have not yet scheduled an interview.
For those planning to travel to the U.S. in August 2024, it is crucial to complete the fee payment and appointment scheduling as soon as possible.
For applicants travelling after August 26, it is recommended to wait until after this date to start the nonimmigrant visa process, as the new system will be in place.
The embassy assures that measures are in place to accommodate both current and future applicants during this transition period.
The changes aim to streamline the visa application process and provide better service to applicants.
