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US Removes Dropbox Visa Renewals For Nigerian Applicants
A major change has been made to the United States visa renewal procedure: all visa applicants must now attend in-person interviews for renewals, as the drop box option for US visa processing is no longer available in Nigeria.
According to The Vanguard, the Dropbox method previously shortened wait times by enabling qualified applicants—especially those with recent travel experience in the United States—to submit passport applications without interviews.
Since some immigration interviews are already scheduled more than a year in advance, the absence of this option has raised fears about further delays. Travel arrangements for many Nigerians, especially business and student travelers, may now be disrupted.
Although there is no official explanation from the U.S. Embassy, some observers link the decision to the lingering impact of President Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.
Also Read: US Embassy Revises Immigration Visa Process In Nigeria
Many applicants sought alternatives in Abuja as a result of the lack of Dropbox appointment slots in Lagos as of January.
To be eligible for the drop box program, applicants needed to fulfill certain requirements, including applying for the same visa classification, having a previous US visa that expired within the last 24 months, and not having any criminal convictions or overstaying history in the US.
The US authorities had, however, previously halted the drop box service in Nigeria in 2018, citing worries about Nigerian tourists abusing their visas.
The drop box (Interview Waiver) program in Nigeria was originally designed to streamline the visa renewal procedure. It permits eligible applicants to submit their documents without physically attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.
Nigerian applicants for US visas will now have to undergo in-person interviews instead of the drop box function, which has resulted in an even longer wait time for visa appointments.
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