The United States visa renewal process has undergone a major change with the removal of the drop box visa processing option for Nigerian applicants
The move is coming on the heels of Donald Trump‘s immigration policy which has had significant impact globally.
The feature that permitted holders of expired visas to renew their visas without a face-to-face interview has been scrapped.
The drop box feature on the appointment booking portal is no longer available, according to applicants trying to schedule visa renewals, even though the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has not yet released an official announcement on the change.
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U.S. visa applications tedious process
This development coincides with a backlog of visa applications, as many applicants had to wait months to get appointments for drop boxes prior to this removal.
Some people even complained that they had to wait almost a year to schedule a face-to-face session, which made the already onerous process even more frustrating.
This adjustment was made at a time when many applicants were already having trouble getting an in-person visa appointment due to lengthy wait times, some of which may last up to a year.
Many applicants sought alternatives in Abuja as a result of the lack of Dropbox appointment slots in Lagos as of January.
Back to in-person interviews
All applicants must now undergo in-person interviews as the drop box feature has been completely removed, reverting to the procedure used prior to 2020.
Originally designed to streamline the visa renewal procedure, the drop box (Interview Waiver) program in Nigeria permits certain applicants to submit their documents without physically attending an interview at the U.S. Embassy.
For applicants to be eligible, they needed to fulfil certain requirements, such as:
Being in possession of a previous U.S. visa that has expired in the last 24 months.
The previous visa must have been a multiple-entry, full-validity visa issued in Nigeria.
Requesting a visa in the same category as the one that was previously granted.
No felony convictions in the United States, labour without permission, or overstaying history.
In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State extended eligibility, enabling individuals whose visas had expired within 48 months to apply using the drop box option.
During the pandemic, this technique sought to decrease in-person interactions and expedite visa renewals.
Removal of U.S. visa applications drop box during Donald Trump’s first term
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Nigeria’s drop box service has, however, been suspended in the past.
Citing worries over Nigerian travellers overstaying their visas, the U.S. government eliminated the option in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term.
Due to the U.S. mission’s requirement at the time that all candidates undergo in-person interviews, processing periods were prolonged and visa appointments were delayed.
Nigerians wishing to apply for American visas will now have to undergo in-person interviews instead of the drop box function, which has resulted in longer wait periods.
Students, frequent tourists, and business travellers who previously depended on the drop box method for quicker renewals may be greatly impacted by this policy change.