The US Mission also said it is opening thousands of visa renewal appointments to assist applicants who wish to renew their visas.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The US Mission has announced it is expanding the eligibility period for non-immigrant visa renewals from 24 months to 48 months.
A statement issued on November 25 by the Mission said applicants whose previous US visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next three months may now qualify to renew their visa without an interview.
The US Mission also said it is opening thousands of visa renewal appointments to assist applicants who wish to renew their visas.
Applicants may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if their application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L or C1/D (combined only) visa, and if they meet each of the following criteria:
“Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria; your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application; your previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa; your previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.
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“You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa; you have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon; and you have never worked without authorisation or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States,” the statement said.
The Mission added that processing times for the programme are expected to be up to two months and applicants would not be able to retrieve their passports during that time.
