US president, Donald Trump has put up a new policy for Nigerian travellers to the United States as he suspended the drop box visa processing option for applicants in Nigeria, marking a serious shift in the manner visa renewals are done.
The drop box process, known as Interview Waver which simplifies visa renewals for certain applicants, enabling them to submit documents without attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.
It was gathered that the service, which allowed eligible individuals to renew their visas without attending an in-person interview, has been removed from the appointment booking system.
Though, while there has been no official statement from the US Embassy in Nigeria in respect to this development, applicants attempting to schedule renewals have reported the disappearance of the drop box feature from the platform.
People who spoke on this latest development mentioned they have been unable to access the option, hinting at its possible removal.
There are indications that the change could be related to various executive orders from Donald Trump’s administration, which have had global consequences.
This shift comes amid a growing backlog of visa applications, with many applicants previously having to wait several months to secure drop box appointments.
Some have even experienced delays of nearly a year in securing an in-person interview, compounding frustrations over an already difficult process.
The move follows a period when long wait times were already a challenge, with some applicants struggling to get an appointment for up to a year. As of January, the drop box service was unavailable in Lagos, forcing many to seek alternatives in Abuja.
Now, with the complete removal of the feature, all applicants will be required to attend in-person interviews, effectively returning to the process that existed before 2020.
