US embassy revises visa interview criteria for Nigerian applicants

The U.S. Embassy has revealed updated visa interview protocols for Nigerian applicants, which will be implemented on April 22, 2025.

In a statement released on Friday, April 11, the U.S. mission highlighted that all individuals set for interviews at its offices in Abuja and Lagos must provide a DS-160 visa application form featuring a confirmation barcode that begins with “AA” followed by two zeros (00). This barcode must precisely match the one utilized for scheduling the interview appointment.

The embassy indicated that anyone who fails to present a corresponding DS-160 barcode will be denied access to the Consular Section and will be ineligible for their scheduled visa interview. Emphasizing the necessity for alignment between the DS-160 form and the appointment details, the embassy encouraged applicants to verify the accuracy of their information at least two weeks prior to their interview date.

The embassy emphasized that DS-160 forms from past applications cannot be reused. If applicants find an incorrect barcode, they must log into their AVITS account no less than 10 days before their interview and submit a support ticket for correction.

Applicants should also confirm that their interview appointment is set for the same location indicated on the DS-160 form. Those who are denied entry due to mismatched information will need to correct the mistake and reschedule their interview. In cases where the original visa fee has lapsed by the time of rescheduling, a new payment may be required.

Since January 1, all applicants are mandated to appear twice at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos as part of the revised visa application process. The embassy stated that these steps are intended to simplify the application procedure and ensure consistency in documentation.