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US Embassy Introduces New Visa Interview Rules For Nigerians (See Details)
By Gideon Ayeni
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a new set of visa interview guidelines for applicants in Abuja and Lagos, set to take effect from April 22, 2025.
According to the embassy, the updated policy focuses on the DS-160 visa application form, a crucial document required for the non-immigrant visa process. All applicants are now required to bring a DS-160 confirmation page with a barcode starting with “AA00” to their interview.
The key detail, however, is that the barcode must match the one used to schedule the visa appointment. Any mismatch will result in the applicant being denied entry into the embassy or consulate, and they will automatically lose that appointment slot.
In a public advisory, the embassy urged all applicants to carefully verify their DS-160 confirmation barcode at least two weeks prior to their scheduled interview date. Reusing old DS-160 forms from previous applications is strictly prohibited under the new rules.
Should an applicant discover a mismatch, they are expected to log into their AVITS account no less than ten days before the appointment and request a correction to the barcode.
In addition, the embassy emphasized that appointments must be booked in the same city selected on the DS-160 form. Applicants who show up in the wrong city or with an incorrect barcode will have to rectify the issue and reschedule. If their visa fee has expired by then, they will need to pay the fee again.
The embassy also reminded applicants that since January 1, 2025, all visa applicants are required to make two separate visits to the US Consulate in Lagos as part of a broader overhaul of the application process in Nigeria.
The embassy says these changes aim to streamline operations and reduce fraud, urging applicants to adhere strictly to the new procedures to avoid delays or disqualification.
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