US Embassy in Nigeria to resume visa services

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria will reopen this Friday after a 10-day closure and resume services for visa applicants and American citizens. The embassy closed last week for undisclosed reasons and applicants were temporarily redirected to the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.

According to a new announcement posted Monday on the U.S. Embassy’s website:

• The embassy will reopen Friday, Aug. 24, for full services to visa applicants and American citizens. Other embassy offices remained open during the suspension in services.
• Visa applicants or American citizens with appointments scheduled for Friday should come to the embassy as scheduled; those whose appointments were scheduled between Aug. 13 and Aug. 23 will be contacted to reschedule.
• Visa applicants and American citizens who were requested to appear again at the embassy for follow-up questions should contact the embassy via email to arrange a new appointment date.
• Visa applicants who submitted their passport through the Interview Waiver Program will have their visa renewal processed as soon as possible. Visa applications that have already been approved will be mailed as usual via DHL to the applicant’s mailing address.
• Background: The embassy closed last week, stating only that the closure was “due to reasons beyond our control.” During the closure, the Embassy issued a country-wide alert Friday warning of increased police and military presence throughout the country due to threats by extremist groups.

BAL Analysis: The reopening of the embassy will relieve visa applicants from having to travel to Lagos; those with urgent travel needs may contact the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, whose operations were not affected by the closure. However, applicants should note that the Consulate will be closed for the Eid al-Kabir (Eid al-Adha) holiday Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and will reopen Thursday.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.