Significant Change: US Visa Drop Box Service Discontinued in Nigeria

Nigerian US visa applicants can no longer use the drop box service for renewals, which eliminated the option of skipping in-person interviews. This change is especially impactful given the existing backlog of appointment wait times, which previously reached nearly a year. The service, initially intended to ease the renewal process, has now reverted to requiring in-person interviews, further complicating access for travelers.

The US Visa Drop Box option is no longer available for applicants in Nigeria, representing a significant change in the visa renewal process. Previously, eligible candidates could renew their visas without attending an in-person interview, but this service has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system. Reports from applicants attempting to schedule renewals indicate that the drop box feature is no longer listed as an option.

The drop box (Interview Waiver) program was initially introduced to facilitate the visa renewal process for certain applicants in Nigeria, enabling them to submit documents without an interview. To qualify, applicants needed to have a prior visa that had expired within the last 24 months, issued in Nigeria, and had to apply for the same visa classification. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, eligibility for the drop box was expanded to include visas expired within 48 months to minimize in-person interactions.

The discontinuation of the drop box feature means Nigerian applicants must now undergo full in-person interviews for US visa renewals, which is expected to exacerbate existing appointment backlogs. This policy change significantly impacts business travelers, students, and frequent visitors who relied on the expedited drop box process. As applicants face even longer wait times, the return to pre-2020 processing conditions raises concerns over the efficiency of obtaining US visas in Nigeria.

Original Source: nairametrics.com