Like the popular saying goes that information is Power; one who has it possesses the key to unlock the door to whatever he or she desires. This is the case of many Nigerians who wish to travel to the United States but have failed to secure visas because they lack the right information and travel agents seems to demand a lot of money for visa application fees.
If you want something to be well done, you might have to do it yourself. Majorly, US visas are broadly divided into the immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The former is issued to those who desires to move to the United States permanently (Green Card Visa, US family visas for Nigerians) which can be a lot more tedious, while the latter is issued to those who are going there on temporary basis such as (US travel visa for tourism or business, US student visas and US work visas for Nigerian citizens). Here is US application in Nigeria for beginners:
Where To Apply For US Visa from Nigeria
For success in getting any of the USA travel visas, you have to go the US Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria or visit their website. You will find all the information you need to process your application.
Also read: Visa Agents in Nigeria Addresses and Contacts (Lagos and Abuja)
US Visa Application in Nigeria
Steps on How to Apply For US Visa from Nigeria
You must be aware of the visa type you are applying for as there are different types of US visas categorized under non-immigrant and immigrant visas. And each of these categories has different requirements as well as application processes. However, we will discuss the steps needed to follow in applying for a United State non-immigrant visa from Nigeria
How To Apply For Non-Immigrant US visa From Nigeria
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Determine your visa type
You have to know the visa type that applies to your situation as tourist, student or businessman. Every visa type is explained in terms of the qualifications and application items and requirements. Know where you belong.
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Visa fee payment
After confirming your visa type, you will be required to pay visa fees applicable to the choice you picked. If you are applying online, you can visit the visa fee page, which lists all the visa types and their corresponding visa fees in both US dollars and your local currency (in your case Naira). The method of payment is provided on the Bank and Payment Options page. You will follow instruction given on how to make the payment. And please remember to keep the receipt safely as the number will be needed to book your visa appointment.
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Complete the DS-160 form
All applicants under non-immigrant US visa from Nigeria are expected to complete the DS-160 form. Before filling the form, you really need to read the guidelines for completing DS-160 form carefully as the informationneeded must be correct and accurate. This is because the form cannot be edited once it has been submitted. It is important to seek assistance of the immigration attorney or translator. The DS-160 form number will be used to secure visa appointment
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Scheduling your visa appointment
This requires you to create a profile with the US embassy visa system. A link will be provided where you are expected to click on the New User button and complete the form. Once through, log on to your system and click on the Schedule Appointmentand you will be on your way to securing a non-immigrant visa appointment. You will need the following for each of the scheduled appointment such asa valid passport for travel to the US with the validity date six months beyond your expected period of stay in the US; The visa application payment receipt number from the GTBank; The 10 digit barcode from the confirmation page of your completed DS-160 form; A valid contact information including email and phone number;. Additional documents required is dependent on the visa class such as I-20 for student visas, a copy of your petition approval for petition-based visas and DS-2019 for exchange visitor visas among other special documents as may be required
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Prepare and Go For the Interview
You must be well prepared psychologically and appear early for the interview. It must be done in person. All information regarding the interview is present at the official website under the button Schedule My Appointments.
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Wait for the verdict
After interview, you will wait for the verdict. It can either be approved or denied. If your application is approved, the visa will be sent to the drop off location you provided in your appointment schedule. If denied, you will be sent the reason for the decline and you are free to petition if you think the denial was unwarranted.’
This is how to complete a US visa application and some information on US Visa appointment in Nigeria.
