US Embassy in Nigeria Suspends Interview Waiver “Drop Box” Program

The U.S Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria has suspended the interview waiver “Drop Box” application process, effective May 14, 2019.

It made this known on the official US Visa Application platform.

The Interview Waiver Program (IWP), also called the Visa Interview Waiver Program, is a program managed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs under which, under some circumstances, interview requirements can be waived for some nonimmigrant visa applicants.

Nigerians who want to travel to the United States of America will no longer be able to use the drop box service or interview waiver for those renewing visas in the country.

This means that if travel is necessary and your visa needs to be renewed, you should plan ahead to accommodate for an in-person interview and the time needed for the interview.

Before the suspension, Nigerian holders of US visa types B1/B2, F, H, and L could renew their visas online by processing it through DHL using one of several dropbox locations across Nigeria without attending physical interviews.

With the suspension, such people will now have to visit the embassy in Abuja or consulate in Lagos for in-person interviews.

“All applicants in Nigeria seeking a non-immigrant visa to the United States must apply online, and will be required to appear in-person at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or U.S. Consulate General in Lagos to submit their application for review.

“Applicants must appear at the location they specified when applying for the visa renewal,” the statement read.

The embassy noted that those who have already submitted their passports via dropbox to DHL for processing before Tuesday will not be affected by the suspension.

Processing of diplomatic and official (A, G, and NATO class) visa applications will also continue unchanged.

The embassy assured that it is taking the new step to provide more efficient customer service and promote legitimate travel.