In order to visit the United States, people with Nigerian passports need to apply for a visa. The good news is that this is pretty much a straightforward process and consists of a couple of steps. To help you with the procedure, here is our guide to applying for a U.S. visa in Nigeria.
Type of Visa
The first step is to find out the type of visa you need. Tourism (B-2) and Business (B-1) are definitely the two most common nonimmigrant visas for Nigerian passport holders. The B-2 visa allows you to stay in the U.S. up to 6ix months, but keep in mind that your passport needs to be valid at least 6 months before your date of return from the United States.
US Visa Fees
After you have determined what type of visa you need, it’s time pay the US visa fee. This non-refundable application fee for tourist and business visas will set you back about $160 and you can make a payment online or at a GTBank branch if you have an account there. Applicants for a U.S. visa in Nigeria should also present their passport at the bank and keep the receipt when making the payment, as they will need it for the visa interview.
Fill in Your DS-160 form
The next step is to complete your DS-160 form. Make sure to fill in this form carefully, as no changes can be made once you submit the visa application through the US Department of State website. Make sure to obtain photographs that meet the US visa photo requirements, as you will need to upload your digital photo together with your application. After you’ve completed and sent the DS-160 form, you become eligible for an interview at the American Embassy. Online Application can be done through this website.
Schedule your Appointment at the US Embassy
In order to schedule your visa appointment, you will need to have your passport number, 10-digit bar code number from your DC-160 form, and the receipt number from the bank as proof of payment for your visa fee. Schedule an appointment online or via call center (234) 1 440 6218. You can attend your interview either at the United States Consulate General in Lagos or at the US Embassy in Abuja.
Come Prepared for the Interview
In case you are travelling to the embassy from another city, it’s a good idea to book a hotel room as the US visa interviews are often scheduled early in the day. Be punctual and make sure to bring all the necessary documents that are needed for the appointment. During the interview, try to be calm and answer any questions the best you can. In case your visa gets approved, it will be sent to the drop-off location that you have selected in the DS-160 form.
To sum it all up, here is a bulleted list of all the documents that you need for your U.S. visa application.
US Visa Requirements
- Nigerian passport with two blank pages for entry stamps and visas
- The passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date
- Previous passports if any
- DS-160 form confirmation page with barcode
- Appointment confirmation page
- Two Photographs that match the US visa photo requirements
- Payment receipt for the application fee
- Some proof of funds (list of property, bank statements, proof of investments, pay slips, etc.)
- Supporting documents (letter of employment, travel itinerary, flight bookings, invitation letters, etc.)
After your visa has been successfully issued, you can pick-up your passport from VFS Collection Office or have it delivered to your address by DHL. You can choose your preferred collection option when you are scheduling your interview. Once your passport is ready, you will be notified for collection. You can track your passport to check the status.
Locations & Contact Information
U.S. Embassy, Abuja
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Abuja
Nigeria
Telephone: (234)-9-461-4000
Fax: (234)-9-461-4171
Email: Consularabuja@state.gov
U. S. Consulate General, Lagos
2 Walter Carrington Crescent
Victoria Island
Nigeria
Telephone: (234)-1-460-3400
Fax: (234)-1-261-2218
- For NIV inquiries, you can contact the U.S. Consulate General at LagosNIV@state.gov
- For IV inquiries, you can contact the U.S. Consulate General at LagosIV@state.gov
- For ACS inquiries, you can contact the U.S.Consulate General at LagosACS@state.gov
