Nigerian US visa applicants are no longer able to use the drop box option for renewals, necessitating in-person interviews. This change has not been officially announced by the US Embassy but has been confirmed through user reports and sources. The alteration comes amid existing appointment backlogs, further complicating the application process.
The US visa drop box provision has been discontinued for applicants in Nigeria, creating a major alteration in the visa renewal process. Sources indicate that the service, which previously allowed eligible individuals to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system, causing considerable disruption.
The drop box or interview waiver program for US visa applicants in Nigeria was established to facilitate smoother visa renewals for eligible individuals. To qualify, applicants were required to possess a previous US visa that expired within 24 months, issued in Nigeria, and apply for the same visa type without any legal infractions in the US. During the COVID-19 pandemic, eligibility criteria were expanded, further simplifying the process up until now.
The removal of the drop box service means that Nigerian visa applicants must now go through in-person interviews, significantly increasing their wait times. Previously, some applicants waited up to a year for an appointment, and this recent change is expected to exacerbate these delays. The policy shift will undoubtedly impact business travelers, students, and frequent visitors who relied on the expedited drop box renewal process for their travel plans.
Original Source: nairametrics.com
