By Omolara Beyioku

Lagos. October 29, 2008. The U.S. Mission to Nigeria has announced that it will offer a secure online appointment booking system as part of plans to improve the processing of nonimmigrant visa applications for Nigerians. 

U.S. government announced that effective from today, the system will go live to offer service in the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
It is borne out of a partnership with VFS Global under a system that the Mission says “we are confident will provide more convenient, secure, and user-friendly services to those applying for U.S. visas in Abuja and Lagos.”

Once the system is operational on October 29, 2008, current procedures to make appointments and pick up passports will no longer be operational, says the statement announcing the new visa system.

The new system features a user-friendly and secure on-line way to make visa appointments; a call centre to answer applicants’ questions about booking appointments and the visa application process. It also includes a downtown location and expanded hours in both cities for visa pick-up.

Under the new plan, the Mission says “VFS will charge a fee of N3500 for these services. This is in addition to existing visa application charges of $131.  Both fees can be paid in cash or with debit or credit cards at any UBA Bank branch.”

According to the announcement, detailed instructions on the new appointment request process will be available at: http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/ as from October 29, 2008. To make an appointment beginning October 29, 2008, intending applicants can go to the VFS website at www.usa-vfsglobal-ng.com.

Additionally, applicants that have a scheduled visa appointment prior to October 29, 2008, will not need to make a new appointment under this new system as appointments made prior to October 29, 2008, remain valid.

However, the Mission cites that “decisions on visa issuance remain guided by existing U.S. immigration laws and regulations. However, we trust these improvements will better assist you in the visa application process.  Our goal is to make the visa application process transparent and more user-friendly for the traveling public here in Nigeria.”

The U.S. Mission expects that, “this new system will allow more people to book appointments and complete applications themselves—and NOT have to pay costly fees to anyone else to do this for them.  By giving each applicant booking an appointment a secure and unique receipt number that is valid for one year from the date of purchase, the new system will increase transparency and open up more slots for legitimate visa applicants and eliminate the need for visa brokers.”

Applicants are also advised that “since demand for visa interview appointments remains high, it is essential that visa applicants apply early – we recommend that you make your appointment as soon as you know when you plan to travel.  Under the new system, applicants have the opportunity to reschedule appointments twice, then must wait 60 days for the receipt number to be reactivated in order to reschedule again.  You may reschedule your appointment as many times as possible for free within the year-long validity of your receipt number. Applicants who fail to appear for their appointment without cancelling it before the appointment date will be required to re-pay the VFS fee of N3500 to secure a new appointment slot.”