The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has announced a major restructuring of its visa operations, confirming that routine visa services will no longer be available at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja from August 1.
The mission said the move is part of a broader realignment of visa operations across Africa, with processing being concentrated in regional hubs to strengthen national security and improve efficiency.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Friday, the mission said the new arrangement would ensure more consistent screening, vetting and adjudication of visa applications.
“The U.S. Department of State is realigning visa operations in Africa to regional hubs as part of a long-standing practice that strengthens national security,” the mission said, adding that the new system would streamline visa processing and better serve applicants.
Under the new arrangement, Nigerians and other residents seeking routine U.S. visas will be required to schedule appointments and pay application fees at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, which will now handle all routine visa services.
The mission said the U.S. Embassy in Abuja will no longer process routine visa applications and advised applicants to follow the updated guidelines to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.