The United States Embassy in Nigeria has introduced new requirements for visa interviews, set to take effect from April 22, 2025.
The policy applies to all applicants scheduled for interviews at both the Abuja and Lagos consular offices.
In an official statement released on Friday, April 11, the embassy emphasized that applicants must present a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes (“00”).
This barcode must exactly match the one used during the scheduling of their visa appointment.
Failure to comply with this new directive, the embassy warned, will result in applicants being denied entry to the Consular Section and disqualified from their scheduled interviews.
“The DS-160 confirmation page must match the appointment record exactly,” the embassy stated. “Applicants are urged to confirm the accuracy of their information no later than two weeks before the scheduled interview.”
Additionally, previously submitted DS-160 forms cannot be reused. In the event of an incorrect barcode, applicants are expected to log into their AVITS account at least 10 days before the interview and submit a support ticket for correction.
The embassy also clarified that the interview must be scheduled at the same location specified on the DS-160 form.
Applicants turned away due to mismatched information will need to correct the discrepancy and reschedule their appointment. If the original visa fee has expired by then, a new payment may be required.
This update follows another procedural change introduced in January 2025, requiring all applicants to appear twice at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.
The embassy said the new guidelines are intended to streamline the application process, minimize delays, and enhance documentation consistency.
Applicants are advised to thoroughly review their documents and appointment details to avoid setbacks.