United States Mission has announced that it will commence a no-interview visa renewal program in Nigeria.
It also stated that it has commenced a visa interview waiver programme with the pilot project commencing at the US Consulate in Lagos for applicants.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday at the US Consulate in Lagos, the US Mission Country Consular Coordinator, Susan Tuller, announced the development.
Tuller stated that it would be limited initially and applied only to applicants for academic exchange, work, study and tourist visas seeking renewal.
According to her, every eligible applicant must have a previous visa that expired within the last 24 months or will expire in the next three months from the date of application.
She stated;
This is not a non-immigrant visa interview waiver process known as the ‘dropbox.’ The new application procedure will begin in February at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos and will be extended shortly thereafter to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. The number of qualified applicants who can apply using the new procedures will be limited initially. Applicants who meet the criteria may apply in Lagos until the service is extended to Abuja.
She said the ‘drop box’ system didn’t achieve its intended goals because it was fraught with “fraud, high overstay rates” whereas the consular unit aimed at strengthening “border security, productivity and customer service.”
US mission in a statement on its official website explained that the initiative is part of its continuous commitment to expand and innovate consular services despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It added;
Conditions for qualification for the non-interview visa renewal include application for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L or C1/D (combined only) visa.
Other conditions are listed below:
Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria;
Your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application;
Your previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa;
US Embassy further stated;
Your previous visa expired within the last 24 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application;
You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa;
You have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon; and you have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.
It concluded;
Applicants who meet these conditions can start their application immediately.
Processing times for the program are expected to be up to two months and applicants will not be able to retrieve their passports during that time.
In May 14, 2019, the embassy indefinitely suspended interview waivers for renewals, otherwise known as the ‘Dropbox’ process.
It insisted then that applicants in Nigeria seeking a non-immigrant visa to the US must apply online and would be required to appear in person at the US Embassy in Abuja or US Consulate General in Lagos to submit their application for review.
In March 2021 when reports were rife that the suspension had been lifted, the embassy faulted the news, adding that the suspension stood.
