The United States Embassy in Abuja has stopped processing routine visa applications, directing applicants to the US Consulate General in Lagos for such services.
The new arrangement took effect on August 1, 2026, according to a reminder issued by the embassy on its official X account.
The embassy said routine visa services are now available only at the US Consulate in Lagos, while applicants who already had appointments in Abuja would still be attended to, although some appointments may have been rescheduled.
Applicants with existing Abuja appointments have been advised to check their emails for updated appointment dates.
The embassy also clarified that applicants with unused and valid MRV visa fee receipts can use them to schedule new appointments at the Lagos consulate.
The development follows a decision by the US Department of State to reorganise routine visa operations across Africa by establishing designated regional processing hubs.
According to the department, the move is intended to strengthen national security through more consistent screening, vetting and adjudication procedures, while improving efficiency.
Lagos has been designated Nigeria’s regional visa hub under the new arrangement, alongside centres in Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Yaoundé.
The US government stressed that the change does not mean the closure of the Abuja embassy.
The realignment covers routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services, including tourist and business visas, petition-based visas, family preference visas and employment-based immigrant visas.
