Important changes to US visa services in Nigeria starting August 26
Published by
Samuel Bolaji
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos will transition to a new visa services provider starting August 26, 2024.
This change, announced on the embassy’s website, aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the visa application process for Nigerian applicants.
Continuity of Nonimmigrant Visa Appointments
All scheduled nonimmigrant visa interview appointments remain valid.
The embassy has outlined specific instructions for applicants, with interviews scheduled before, during, and after the transition period.
Interviews on or Before August 16, 2024:
No Action Required: Applicants can continue accessing their accounts on ustraveldocs.com to review appointment details and contact customer service as necessary.
Interviews Between August 16 and August 26, 2024:
Limited Access After August 16, 2024: Account access on ustraveldocs.com will be disabled after this date, preventing appointment cancellations or rescheduling and restricting customer service access.
Action Required: Print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16, 2024. Attendance at the scheduled interview is strongly encouraged. If unable to attend, check the new visa services website after August 26, 2024, for rescheduling instructions.
Interviews on or After August 26, 2024:
New Visa Services Website: Applicants will need to visit the new visa services website to create a new user account to manage their visa information, make changes, submit requests, and contact customer service.
Action Required: Print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16, 2024, to avoid potential technical issues during account setup on the new platform.
Visa Fee Payments and Scheduling Guidelines
Fee Paid, No Interview Scheduled: Schedule your visa appointment promptly and follow the outlined instructions based on your interview date.
Planning to Travel in August 2024, Fee Not Paid: Pay the visa application fee and schedule your appointment immediately.
Planning to Travel After August 26, 2024, Fee Not Paid: Consider waiting until after August 26, 2024, to initiate the nonimmigrant visa process.
Critical Dates
August 8, 2024: Last day to pay visa fees in cash at the bank.
August 15, 2024: Last day to access accounts on ustraveldocs.com for online fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service.
August 21, 2024: Last day to drop off documents at Premium Delivery locations.
August 23, 2024: Last day to drop off documents at regular courier locations for delivery to the Embassy or Consulate.
August 26, 2024: New visa appointment website goes live, enabling fee payments, appointment scheduling, customer service access, and new document drop-off and pickup locations.
Supporting a Smooth Transition
The US Embassy and Consulate are dedicated to facilitating a seamless transition to the new visa services provider. Applicants are encouraged to stay informed of these changes and prepare accordingly to prevent disruptions in their visa application process.
Samuel Bolaji
Samuel Bolaji, an alumnus/Scholar of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, holds a Master of Letters in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is an experienced researcher, multimedia journalist, writer, and Editor. Ex-Chief Correspondent, ex-Acting Op-Ed Editor, and ex-Acting Metro Editor at The PUNCH Newspaper, Samuel is currently the Editor at Arbiterz.
