The United States Embassy has announced new visa interview requirements for Nigerian applicants, set to take effect from April 22, 2025.
In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said all applicants attending interviews in Abuja and Lagos must present a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes (“00”).
The barcode must match the one used to schedule the interview appointment online. Failure to present matching barcode information will result in denial of entry to the consular section and disqualification from the interview.
“Starting April 22, 2025, all visa applicants in Abuja and Lagos must bring a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation/barcode number (starting with AA and followed by 00 – two zeroes) that matches the one used to make their appointment online,” the statement read.
“You also must make your appointment in the location you selected when filling out your DS-160.”
The embassy, however, advised applicants to verify the alignment at least two weeks before their appointment. It also noted that previously used DS-160 forms cannot be reused.
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“If your DS-160 barcode is incorrect, you must log into your AVITS account at least 10 days before your appointment to create a support ticket requesting correction of your barcode number,” the embassy stated.
In addition, applicants were also reminded to ensure that their visa appointments are scheduled at the same location selected in their DS-160 form.
“If you are turned away from your appointment because your barcode numbers do not match, once you correct the problem, you will need to book a new appointment to proceed with your visa application.”
“You may book a new appointment by logging into your AVITS account. If your visa fee has expired, you may have to pay a new fee before booking,” the statement added.
Since January 1, all visa applicants have been required to visit the US Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application process
