The United States has implemented a new visa policy requiring all non-immigrant visa applicants to schedule their interviews exclusively at U.S. embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or legal residence.
Effective September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that those applying outside their home country may face significantly longer wait times and risk forfeiting their non-refundable application fees if denied.
Applicants must schedule their interviews at embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or legal residence. For countries where the U.S. does not conduct routine visa operations, designated locations will apply.
Those applying outside their home country may find it harder to qualify for a visa, as consular officers are tasked with assessing ties to the applicant’s home country or residence.
Application fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable, even if the application is denied.
Certain categories, including A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, diplomatic, and official visas, are not subject to this rule.
Exceptions can also be made for urgent humanitarian or medical emergencies and specific foreign policy considerations.
For Nigerians, this means visa applications must now be processed only at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate in Lagos.
Previously, many Nigerians sought appointments in neighboring countries, such as Ghana or Cameroon, to bypass long wait times. This option is no longer available.
The State Department clarified that existing appointments will generally not be canceled.
However, this change is part of broader efforts to streamline visa processing and address global backlogs while tightening security measures—a trend that began during the Trump administration.
