In a significant development affecting US visa applicants in Nigeria, the once-available drop box visa processing option has been removed, marking a pivotal change in the visa renewal procedure. Sources from Innovationtimes have confirmed that the service, which previously allowed eligible individuals to renew their visas without attending an in-person interview, has quietly disappeared from the appointment booking system. This abrupt change has caught many applicants off guard, who previously relied on the drop box feature to expedite their visa renewals.
Although the US Embassy in Nigeria has yet to release an official statement regarding this change, numerous applicants attempting to schedule their visa renewals have found that the drop box feature is no longer available on the embassy’s appointment platform. Those who reached out to Innovationtimes shared that their attempts to access this service have been unsuccessful, with no indication as to when or if it will return.
The timing of this move coincides with a period of strained visa processing in Nigeria, with many applicants already grappling with long wait times and significant delays in securing an appointment. Applicants who once relied on the drop box feature now face a return to the traditional system of in-person interviews, which had been put in place before the introduction of the drop box option in 2020. For some, the lack of the drop box service marks an additional layer of frustration in an already tedious and time-consuming process.
Sources within Innovationtimes suggest that the removal of the drop box service may be linked to the broader impact of executive orders from former US President Donald Trump, which have continued to shape visa policies around the world. These measures, designed to address concerns such as visa overstays, have contributed to the tightening of visa regulations and the reversion to stricter interview requirements.
Visa applicants in Nigeria, particularly those who had already been struggling with long processing times, now find themselves with few alternatives. Many individuals attempting to schedule appointments in Lagos—where drop box slots have not been available for months—were already seeking alternatives in Abuja. But with the complete removal of the drop box option, those who once hoped to avoid long in-person wait times are now facing the same backlogs that led to delays of up to a year for appointments.
The US Department of State had previously introduced the drop box program to ease the visa renewal process, particularly for applicants who had prior US visas that had expired within a specific time frame. This service was particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person interactions were minimized. Initially, the drop box was available to applicants with visas that had expired within the last 24 months, and it was later extended during the pandemic to include those with expired visas within 48 months. This service allowed certain individuals to submit their documents without having to attend an in-person interview at the embassy.
However, this service has faced interruptions in the past. In 2018, during the early days of the Trump administration, the drop box service was temporarily suspended amid concerns over visa overstays by Nigerian nationals. This forced applicants to go through the full visa interview process, further extending wait times. As the drop box service has been removed once again, those seeking US visas in Nigeria will now have to navigate the full application process, complete with in-person interviews, which could take many months to secure.
The removal of the drop box service is expected to impact a wide range of visa applicants in Nigeria, from business travelers and students to frequent visitors who relied on the streamlined process for quicker visa renewals. With the ongoing backlog and the return to full in-person interviews, many applicants may now face significant delays in securing the visas they need for business, study, or travel purposes.
This change underscores the importance of staying informed about shifting visa policies and the ongoing impact of global political developments on the visa process. For those affected by this change, it is crucial to be prepared for extended wait times and to explore other options for securing timely appointments.
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