The United States visa application procedure for Nigerian applicants has taken a significant turn with the abrupt termination of the drop box visa processing option. This development, which previously allowed eligible individuals to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has quietly vanished from the appointment scheduling system, sources at Nairametrics confirm.
While the US Embassy has yet to release an official statement, multiple applicants have reported that the drop box feature is no longer available when attempting to schedule renewals.
This shift occurs amid mounting appointment backlogs, with many applicants struggling to secure interview slots, further indicating that the removal is a recent change.
Reports suggest that the decision is connected to executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump, whose visa-related policies continue to have lasting effects worldwide.
Before this removal, visa applicants already faced extensive delays, with some waiting up to a year to obtain a physical appointment.
In January, drop box slots were unavailable in Lagos, forcing many to explore options in Abuja. Now, with its complete removal, all applicants must undergo in-person interviews, effectively reverting the process to pre-2020 standards.
Understanding the Drop Box Program
The drop box Interview Waiver program was originally introduced to simplify visa renewals, allowing eligible applicants to bypass in-person interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate.
To qualify, applicants had to meet specific requirements, including:
- Holding a prior US visa that expired within the past 24 months.
- Having a previously issued full-validity, multiple-entry visa in Nigeria.
- Applying for the same visa category as their previous approval.
- Maintaining a clean travel record, free of overstays, unauthorized work, or criminal infractions in the US.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, the US Department of State expanded eligibility, allowing applicants whose visas had expired within the last 48 months to use the drop box system.
This adjustment aimed to ease application backlogs while minimizing health risks.
However, this isn’t the first time the program has faced disruptions. In 2018, during Trump’s administration, the service was scrapped over concerns about visa overstays among Nigerian travelers.
That suspension forced all applicants into mandatory interviews, leading to prolonged processing times and severe delays.
Implications for Nigerian Applicants
With the latest removal of the drop box option, Nigerian applicants seeking US visas must now prepare for full in-person interviews, intensifying the already congested appointment system.
This change is expected to pose considerable hurdles for business professionals, students, and frequent travelers who previously relied on the streamlined renewal process.
As delays mount, many are left wondering how long this new policy will remain in effect—and whether relief could come in the form of future policy reversals.
Article updated 1 week ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
