The US Has Announced That Nigerian Students Can Now Renew Their Student Visas Without Interviews
There is good news for Nigerian students currently studying in the United States of America, as the Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria recently announced that students seeking to continue their studies in the US can now renew their visas without appearing for interviews.
The Consulate made this disclosure on April 21, 2022, in an official statement released on its website. According to the release, the Embassy said: “If you are currently studying in the United States, you may be eligible to renew your student visa without an interview when you return to Nigeria this summer.
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.”
There are, however, separate instructions for students applying for this renewal from Lagos State and the FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
Students applying from Lagos are advised to: “visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions to make an interview waiver appointment for a student visa. You must come in person to the U.S. Consulate on the date and time of your appointment.”
You are also required to visit the US Consulate on your appointment day and time with a completed DS-160; an approved I-20; a receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; a 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 a passport photograph meeting these requirements.”
Students applying from Abuja are advised to visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow instructions to complete their application and visit a designated DHL facility to drop off their application.
According to the statement: “Abuja applicants are required to include a printout of their Submission letter (printed from ustraveldocs.com/ng; a completed DS-160; an approved I-20; a receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; a 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 a passport photograph meeting these requirements.”
These documents must also be attached to their application and dropped off at the designated DHL facility in Abuja.
However, students who do not meet the criteria mentioned above are expected to schedule regular appointments. According to the Embassy’s 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. 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.”
You can visit the Embassy’s official website for more details on how you can apply and follow up on your application now.
