The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a new application processing policy with the introduction a new DHL collection centre in Port Harcourt. The Embassy also disclosed that applicants who qualify for the drop box renewal programme can submit their passports and applications to the Port Harcourt DHL collection centre.

The new DHL collection centre in Port Harcourt brings to three such centres in Nigeria, including the ones in Abuja and Lagos.

“As is the case with our DHL partner locations in Lagos and Abuja, visa applicants with approved applications can now collect their passports with their new visas from the DHL collection centre in Port Harcourt,” the Consular Chief, Stacie Hankins said at a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

Hankins appealed to non immigration visa applicants that when they make an appointment, they must include the correct confirmation number from their DS-160 online application form as part of the required information.

She explained that passport collection via the centre in Port Harcourt will take one additional day, stressing that individuals whose visa applications are approved can expect their passports within four days, and that drop box applicants can expect their passports within 7-10 days.

Hankins explained that the essence of the introduction of the Port Harcourt DHL collection centre is aimed at making visa processing easier and faster.

The US Embassy also announced that it has received 220,000 non immigration visa applications so far in 2014. Hankins disclosed that over the last five years, the number of visa applications that the embassy receives has continued to increase.

“Between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013 the Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos received more than 182,000 non immigrant visa applications, the majority of which were approved. Between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014, we received more than 220,000 applications, again, the majority of those application were approved,” Hankins said.

“We hope that Nigerians’ desire to visit our beautiful country will continue to grow, and we look forward to working with our partners to allow qualified tourist and business travelers to do so,” she added.

•Text courtesy of National Mirror. Photo shows US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistie.