President Trump Announces New Visa Rules for Nigerian Applicants, Days After Imposing Tariff
From Our Correspondent
In a move that could complicate travel between the United States and Nigeria, President Donald Trump’s administration has introduced new visa application procedures for Nigerian nationals.
These rules, announced by the U.S. Embassy, will take effect on April 22, 2025, for applicants seeking visas at the embassy offices in Abuja and Lagos.
The new guidelines focus on the completion of the DS-160 form, a mandatory document for individuals applying for U.S. visas.
Under the new regulations, every applicant must present a DS-160 confirmation page that includes a barcode beginning with “AA00.”
This barcode must match the one used during the online visa appointment booking process. Any discrepancies between the barcode on the confirmation page and the one used for scheduling the appointment will result in the applicant being denied entry to the embassy or consulate, leading to the cancellation of the appointment.
Applicants are urged to double-check their DS-160 forms carefully before their scheduled interviews.
The embassy has emphasized the importance of ensuring that the barcode on the DS-160 form aligns with the one submitted when booking the appointment.
Furthermore, previously submitted DS-160 forms cannot be reused for future applications, stressing the need for applicants to submit new forms.
If an applicant discovers a mismatch between the barcode on their DS-160 form and the one used for the appointment booking, they must visit their online account (AVITS) at least ten days before the interview to request a correction.
Additional requirements state that applicants must book their interview appointments in the same city they selected when completing the DS-160 form.
Those who arrive in a different city or present an incorrect barcode will need to reschedule their interview. If the visa fee expires in the meantime, they may have to pay again.
These rule changes are part of a broader shift in the U.S. visa application process in Nigeria. Since January 1, 2025, all applicants have been required to visit the U.S. Consulate in Lagos twice as part of their application procedure.
The introduction of these new visa interview guidelines comes just days after President Trump imposed a new tariff on Nigerian imports, further straining the relationship between the two countries.
With these new visa restrictions and the economic tension stemming from tariffs, Nigerians looking to travel to the United States now face additional challenges that could make the visa process more cumbersome and costly.
As the U.S. government continues to tighten immigration policies, these updates signal an ongoing shift in how the country manages visa applications, particularly from countries like Nigeria.
