The United States has announced that it will begin to permit the renewal of nonimmigrant (Nigerian) visas without interviews as well as expand eligibility from 24 months to 48.
The United States Consulate announced this in a press statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the U.S. Mission is expanding the eligibility period for nonimmigrant visa renewals from 24 months to 48 months, it is also opening thousands of visa renewal appointments to assist applicants who wish to renew their visas.
It added that applicants whose previous U.S. visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months may now qualify to renew their visa without an interview.
It listed the prerequisites to be met before certified as eligible for renewal to include applicants with B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L or C1/D (combined only) visa.
Other criteria are “Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria.
•Your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application.
•Your previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa.
•Your previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.
•You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa.
•You have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon.
•You have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.
“Please note that processing times for the program are expected to be up to two months and you will not be able to retrieve your passport during that time.
“Each applicant must individually meet the criteria; minors can apply without an interview only if they meet the eligibility criteria on their own.”
The Consulate, while noting that third parties unaffiliated with U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos may seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent offers or claims, warned applicants to fill their forms personally from the official website.
“Applicants should fill out their own forms and make their appointments themselves via the official websites.
“As future opportunities for Interview Waiver appointments become available, they will be communicated via our website.”
