Washington D.C., USA — The United States has introduced a new rule restricting immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to attend interviews only in their country of residence, ending the long-standing option of applying through embassies and consulates in third countries.
The change, announced by the US State Department, takes effect immediately and is expected to impact thousands of Africans including Nigerians who often traveled to Ghana, South Africa, or Europe for faster interview slots.
Immigration experts say the policy may lengthen waiting times in countries with backlogs, while the US argues it will streamline consular efficiency and prevent “visa-shopping” across regions.
Many Nigerian applicants have expressed frustration, calling on the government to engage US authorities diplomatically to mitigate the impact.
