The US Mission said applicant must be physically in Nigeria, renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The United States Consulate has announced that Nigerian students in the United States on an F1 or academic J1 visa may be eligible to renew their student visas without an interview when they return to Nigeria for the winter break.
To qualify for this procedure, the Consulate said in a statement made available to The Niche on Wednesday that “you must be physically in Nigeria, renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months and are renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.
“By scheduling a no-interview student visa renewal appointment, you’ll be able to drop off your passport at a DHL location in Lagos, on a date and time you schedule using the Consulate’s online booking system.”
The US Mission in Nigeria restated its commitment to returning an applicant’s passport within two weeks from the appointment date, adding that it would prioritise any required follow-up interviews.
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To schedule a no-interview student visa renewal appointment, it said, “Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions. On the day and time of your scheduled appointment, visit a designated DHL facility to drop off your application with the following documents:
“A printout of your submission letter (printed from www.ustraveldocs.com/ng); a DS-160 completed in the last six months; an approved I-20; a receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; your passport containing the expired student visa (if that passport has expired, a current valid passport must be included); a passport photograph taken in the last six months meeting these requirements.”
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria, the Consulate noted, should visit and schedule a regular appointment at www.ustraveldocs.com/ng.
The statement noted, “If someone in your family or group does not meet the qualifications above, they must schedule a regular appointment. Each applicant must meet the qualifications individually. For instance, we cannot accept a renewal for a child if the parent is the only one who qualifies under the guidelines. In that case, the child would need to schedule an appointment and come to the Embassy or Consulate for an interview.
“Scheduled applicants who qualify for the no-interview student visa renewal based on the above criteria can cancel their appointments and re-apply. During the rescheduling process you will be asked questions confirming eligibility for the student renewal program and be provided instructions on how to submit the application through the document delivery center.
“If you do not qualify for a no-interview student visa renewal, please do not cancel your appointment.”
