The United States mission in Nigeria has announced new visa interview requirements for travellers in Abuja and Lagos, effective April 22, 2025.
In a statement released on Friday, the embassy detailed measures designed to streamline the consular process and reduce entry issues on interview day.
Under the revised rules, every visa applicant must present a printed DS‑160 confirmation form whose barcode number begins with “AA00” — the same number used to book their interview online.
“At least two weeks before your interview, please double‑check that the barcode number on your DS‑160 form matches the one you used to schedule your appointment,” the mission warned.
Failure to produce a matching barcode will result in denial of access to the Consular Section and refusal to sit the interview.
“You cannot reuse a DS‑160 from a previous application. 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 statement added.
Applicants are also reminded to attend their interview at the location selected on their DS‑160.
“You also must make your appointment in the location you selected when filling out your DS‑160,” the embassy emphasised.
For those turned away because of mismatched barcodes, the embassy advises correcting the form and then booking a new appointment via AVITS.
“If your visa fee has expired, you may have to pay a new fee before booking,” the statement noted.
These changes follow a January 1 directive requiring all Nigerian visa seekers to make two in‑person visits to the Lagos Consulate General as part of their application process.
The embassy says the new barcode checks are intended to prevent delays and ensure a smoother “visa processing” experience.
Applicants with questions or needing assistance can reach the visa call centre at +234 201 343 8900 (in Nigeria) or +1 734 418 2395 (from the U.S.), email nigeria@usvisaappt.com, or use the ChatBot and Click‑To‑Talk features on the AVITS website.
