US embassy to reschedule visa interviews for Nigerians after system glitch

Interviews for Nigerians whose visa applications were delayed due to technological issues will be rescheduled, according to the US Department of State.

According to certain accounts, several Nigerian visa applicants were unable to attend their planned interviews.

Those impacted bemoaned the uncertainty surrounding their visa applications and the disruption to their trip arrangements.

Jennifer Johnson, press officer in the office of Public and Congressional Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs, US Department of State, told Punch on Monday that the challenges were due to a partial systems outage.

“All consular operations have resumed as normal,” Johnson added.

“Visa applicants whose interviews must be rescheduled due to the outage will be notified.”

Last year, the US revised its visa processing requirements for Nigerians, mandating that all applicants visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the process.

According to the US embassy, the new process was designed to help applicants prepare for their visa interviews and to prevent significant delays in processing their immigrant visas.