US Embassy Announces New Visa Interview Requirements For Nigerians

The United States Embassy has revealed new visa interview protocols for Nigerian applicants, effective from April 22, 2025. In a statement released on Friday, April 11, the U.S. mission specified that all individuals scheduled for interviews at its offices in Abuja and Lagos must submit a DS-160 visa application form featuring a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes (00). This barcode must precisely correspond to the one used to secure the interview appointment.

The embassy noted that failing to provide a matching DS-160 barcode will lead to refusal of entry to the Consular Section and cancellation of the planned visa interview. The embassy underscored the necessity of ensuring alignment between the DS-160 form and appointment details, encouraging applicants to verify the correctness of their information at least two weeks prior to their interview date.

The embassy also clarified that DS-160 forms from earlier applications cannot be reused. In situations where applicants identify an incorrect barcode, they must access their AVITS account at least 10 days before the interview and submit a support ticket to request a correction.

Applicants are further required to confirm that their interview appointment is scheduled at the same location indicated in the DS-160 form. Those denied entry due to mismatched information will need to correct the discrepancy and book a new interview. If the original visa fee has lapsed by the time of rescheduling, a fresh payment may be required.

Since January 1, all applicants have also been mandated to attend two appearances at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos as part of the revised visa application process. The embassy highlighted that these steps are designed to enhance the efficiency of the application process and ensure uniformity in documentation.

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