United States | Latest NIV and IV applicant interview scheduling updates and US embassy visa service pause include Burkina Faso

The State Department made minimal changes to its prior updates on nonimmigrant (NIV) and immigrant (IV) visa applicant interview scheduling, adding Burkina Faso to its designated processing post list.

Additionally, routine visa services for the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou (the capital of Burkina Faso) will be temporarily paused, effective Oct. 10.

Key Points:

• The latest NIV and IV applicant interview scheduling updates from the State Department were limited to changes in certain visa processing post locations:
  • Burkina Faso was added to both the designated IV and NIV processing posts list, with Lome as the country’s designated location.
  • Niger’s designated location for nonimmigrant visa processing was changed to Lome (from its previous location of Ouagadougou).
• According to the State Department’s Oct. 9 update, Niger’s designated location for immigrant visa processing remains Abidjan.
• On Oct. 8, the State Department announced a temporary pause in routine visa services for the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, effective Oct. 10, 2025. The pause includes applications for IVs as well as NIVs for tourists, business travelers, students, exchange visitors and most other nonimmigrant categories. However, applications for A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-4, C-2 and C-3 diplomatic and official visas will continue to be processed.

Additional Information: The State Department previously announced that starting Nov. 1, 2025, the National Visa Center will schedule IV applicants in their country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality. The State Department also announced in September that NIV applicants “should schedule their visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.” Nationals of countries where the U.S. does not conduct routine NIV operations must apply at designated embassies or consulates.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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