US lists three categories of visa services affected in Nigeria

The United States Department of State has listed three categories of visa services affected in Nigeria and other African countries as part of a broader move to regional visa hubs.

The development was disclosed by the US Mission in Nigeria on Tuesday in a visa services update.

According to the department, routine visa operations in Abuja are among those being realigned, stating that the change affects applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, including those travelling to the United States for tourism, business and other temporary purposes.

It further revealed that the move is part of its efforts to strengthen national security, improve efficiency and ensure greater consistency in visa screening and adjudication, noting that said the administration of President Donald Trump is prioritising national security and the efficient use of government resources.

According to the department, it regularly evaluates its overseas operations to ensure they advance US priorities while maintaining rigorous standards for security screening and vetting.

The department explained that visa operations in Africa are being realigned to regional hubs as part of a long-standing practice that promotes more uniform screening, vetting and adjudication standards.

The State Department said the regional hub system has already been implemented successfully in several African countries as well as in Europe.

“The affected locations include Abuja, as well as Antananarivo, Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek,” it said.