Nigerians seeking to renew their US visas will now go through full in-person interviews, as the appointment booking system has quietly removed the drop box option.
This shift in the visa renewal process eliminates a system that had previously allowed eligible applicants to bypass interviews.
While the US Embassy in Nigeria has not issued an official statement on the change, multiple applicants attempting to schedule visa renewals confirmed that the drop box feature is no longer available on the booking platform.
Sources told Nairametrics that the removal may be tied to lingering executive orders from Donald Trump’s administration, which had previously imposed stricter visa policies affecting Nigerian travellers.
This comes at a time when US visa applicants in Nigeria are already facing extended wait times with many applicants struggling for months or even a year to secure a drop box appointment before the feature disappeared from the system.
As of January, available drop box slots in Lagos had already been exhausted, forcing applicants to explore alternatives in Abuja.
With the complete suspension of the service, all applicants must now undergo in-person interviews, returning to the pre-2020 process that many had hoped to avoid.
This policy shift is expected to significantly impact business travelers, students, and frequent visitors who previously relied on the drop box system for faster renewals.
The increase in demand for in-person interviews will likely worsen the already lengthy visa processing times, frustrating thousands of applicants.
The drop box (Interview Waiver) programme was introduced to simplify visa renewals by allowing qualified applicants to submit their documents without attending an in-person interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, the US Department of State expanded eligibility, allowing those whose visas expired within 48 months to apply through the drop box system.
This move was aimed at streamlining visa renewals and minimizing physical interactions amid pandemic-related restrictions.
However, Nigeria’s drop box service has faced previous suspensions.
In 2018, during Trump’s first administration, the US government removed the option, citing concerns over Nigerian travellers overstaying their visas.
At the time, all applicants were required to undergo in-person interviews, leading to widespread delays and difficulty securing appointments.
