The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced that its operation in its Abuja and Lagos consulates will be handled by a new visa services provider, starting August 26, 2024.

The decision was announced on the official website and verified social media pages of the American embassy.

In the statement seen by AMBusiness, the US embassy revealed that Nigerian applicants who had already booked an appointment date would no longer have access to the U.S. travel website from August 16, however, adequate provisions are being made for the existing and prospective applicants as it migrates to a new service provider.

Addressing Nigerian applicants whose interviews have been scheduled on or before August 16, 2024, the embassy said, “No further action is required. You may continue to access your account at ustraveldocs.com to review your appointment details and contact customer service as necessary.”

Applicants whose interviews are scheduled between August 16 and August 26, 2024, are also not required to take further actions but “you will no longer have access to your ustraveldocs.com account after August 16, 2024,” meaning they “will not be able to cancel or reschedule your appointment from August 16, 2024, and will have no access to customer service.”

These applicants are hereby advised to “print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16, 2024, … attend your visa interview if possible – if you fail to appear for your scheduled interview, please check here on or after August 26, 2024, for instructions on rescheduling your appointment.”

The statement continued, “If your interview is scheduled for August 26, 2024, or later: No further action is required, but you will no longer have access to your ustraveldocs.com account after August 16, 2024. This means you will not be able to cancel or reschedule your appointment from August 16, 2024, and will have no access to customer service. Beginning August 26, 2024, check here for a link to the new visa services website and updated information on creating a new user account. You will need to create this new account to review your account information, make changes, submit requests, or to contact customer service. Print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16, 2024, in case you experience technical issues in creating your new account.”

For applicants who have paid the visa application fee but have not scheduled an interview, the embassy strongly encourages “you to schedule a visa appointment as soon as possible, and read the information provided above based on your interview date.”

It continued, “If you have not paid the visa application fee and are planning to travel to the United States in August 2024: We strongly encourage you to pay the visa application fee and schedule your visa appointment as soon as possible, and read the information provided above based on your interview date.

“If you have not paid the MRV fee and are planning to travel to the United States after August 26, 2024: You may wish to wait until after August 26, 2024, to begin the nonimmigrant visa process.”

APPLICANTS ARE HEREBY URGED TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT DATES:

August 8, 2024 – Last day to pay visa fees in cash at the bank.

August 15, 2024 – Last day to access your account on ustraveldocs.com to pay the visa application fee online, schedule appointments, and contact customer service.

August 21, 2024 – Last day to drop off your documents at Premium Delivery locations.

August 23, 2024 – Last day to drop off your documents at regular courier locations for delivery to the Embassy or Consulate.

August 26, 2024– New visa appointment website goes live. Fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service are available. New document drop-off and pickup locations are available. (The PUNCH)

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