The United States embassy in Nigeria has said that individuals studying in the US may be eligible to renew their student visa without an interview when they return to Nigeria this summer.
However, to qualify for the procedure, the applicant must be physically present to renew a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the last 24 months.
The embassy in a statement in Abuja on Thursday further explained that an eligible student must continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution or attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.
It stated, “To qualify for this procedure, you must be physically in Nigeria renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months and is renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.”
The application can be done in Abuja or Lagos.
HOW TO APPLY
You may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if your application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L or C1/D (combined only) visa, AND you meet each of the following criteria:
· Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria;
· Your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application;
· Your previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa;
· Your previous visa expired within the last 24 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application;
· You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa;
· You have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon; and
· You have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.
Abuja applicants are expected to visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng, and “follow instructions to complete your application and visit a designated DHL facility to drop off your application”.
The application is expected to be accompanied by the following documents: A printout of your submission letter (printed from www.ustraveldocs.com/ng); completed DS-160; an approved I-20; receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; GTBank (MRV) receipt for your visa fee; your passport containing the expired student visa (if that passport is expired, a current valid passport is also required); and passport photograph.
For Lagos applicants, the embassy asked applicants to visit “www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions to make an interview waiver appointment for a student visa”.
Applicants are also expected to “come in person to the U.S. Consulate on the date and time of your appointment”.
The applicant is expected to come with the same requirements as their Abuja counterparts.
According to the statement, applicants who do not meet these criteria “should visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to schedule a regular appointment”.
“If someone in your family or group does not meet the qualifications above, they must schedule a regular appointment,” the statement reads.
“Each applicant must meet the qualifications individually. For instance, we cannot accept a renewal for a child because the parent qualifies under these guidelines. In that case, the child would need to schedule an appointment and come to the embassy or consulate for an interview,’’ the embassy stated.
Emergency Appointments
If you have a life-or-death emergency, you may request an expedited, in-person interview, however, to accommodate No-Interview Visa Renewals, appointments will be very limited.
Business travel, conferences, weddings, and graduations are not considered emergencies. If you have an emergency and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng or +234-1-227-8955 to request an emergency appointment.
Special Note
Third parties unaffiliated with U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos may seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent offers or claims.
Applicants should fill out their own forms and make their appointments themselves via the official websites.
As future opportunities for Interview Waiver appointments become available, they will be communicated via the website.
