New application process begins in February at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said it is aware of the challenges faced by Nigerian visa applicants with the new system, but added that some of those issues have been addressed.
In a statement posted on its website dated October 9, 2024, the embassy said: Many of these issues have been resolved. We are working on the remaining challenges as quickly as possible with the new system. We regret that this transition has caused dissatisfaction and inconvenience to many visa applicants. We hope that all applicants will soon see improved processing. ”
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The embassy explained that its consulates in Abuja and Lagos are committed to high standards of customer service and will continue to provide a full range of services while addressing current challenges.
On August 26, 2024, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria began transitioning to a new visa reservation system. Nigeria is one of the first countries in the world where the US government has introduced this new system. The goal of the new system is to make the process of obtaining a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and its consulate in Lagos easier for applicants and more transparent for all visa applicants in Nigeria.
However, the new system is not without its challenges, with applicants complaining of delays in both reservations and applications.