US Embassy interviews 150,000 Nigerians for visa in 2023 alone
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria has been taken off the United States Diversity Immigrant Visa (Green Card) Programme since 2014 because the number of Nigerians in Yankee Country has totalled 50,000 every year since then – a rule that applies to other countries – yet more than 150,000 Nigerians were interviewed for US visa in 2023 alone.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires David Greene, who disclosed the number of visa applicants at the weekend, explained the figure is in addition to 30,000 student visa applicants.
But Greene pledged in Abuja the US Mission remains committed to tackling all visa-related bottlenecks, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“When it comes to visas specifically, well of course it is a simple fact, the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply,” he said.
“So, those appointments are available and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. What folks do not know is that this year we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians.
“This is in addition to 30,000 students. Hundreds of thousands of students have had the opportunity to seek visas from the U.S.”
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Tie visa application to an event, apply early
“We are doing the best we can to get proper ways for all the categories and after having an enormous backlog as a result of COVID-19, and all that, Greene said, per The PUNCH.
“We have made great progress, though. In March we instituted a five-year term for visas to the US.”
Greene urged persons desiring to travel to the US to apply for visa early and ensure that the requests are tied to events.
“Folks that are seeking visas should apply early, make sure that the plan is for an event as they can.
“This is because we do acknowledge that there is a backlog and we will do what we can to make sure people who need a warrant visa to the US can get them.”