The United States Embassy in Nigeria said it has interviewed over 150,000 Nigerians, including 30,000 students, who applied for visas to their country this year.
The head, Mr. David Greene, made this disclosure on Sunday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Urged persons desiring to travel to the US to apply early and ensure that the visa requests are tied to events
The staggering figure of 150,000 visa interviews conducted by the US Embassy in Nigeria in 2023 underscores the growing interest and desire among Nigerians to visit or relocate to the United States. Among these applicants, 30,000 are students aspiring to pursue higher education, highlighting the continued appeal of American universities and educational institutions.
Several factors could contribute to the surge in visa applications. Economic opportunities, educational pursuits, family reunification, and cultural exchange are some of the primary motivations driving Nigerians to seek entry into the United States. The increasing awareness of diverse opportunities in the US, coupled with a desire for a better quality of life, has likely fueled this surge.
The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in the increased number of visa applications. As the world gradually recovers from the pandemic, individuals who postponed their plans due to travel restrictions and uncertainties may now be eager to resume their journeys. The reopening of borders and resumption of regular travel activities could be contributing to the surge witnessed by the US Embassy in Nigeria.
He also assured visa applicants of the mission’s commitment to tackling all visa-related hitches.
According to him, issues related to visas would fully become a thing of the past, saying the mission is doing everything within its power to tackle such challenges.
“When it comes to visas specifically, well, of course, it is a simple fact: the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply.
“So, those appointments are available, and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. What folks do not know is that this year, we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians.
“This is in addition to 30,000 students. Hundreds of thousands of students have had the opportunity to seek visas from the US.
“We are doing the best we can to get proper ways for all the categories after having an enormous backlog as a result of COVID-19 and all that.
“We have made great progress, though. In March, we instituted a five-year term for visas to the US,” he added.
He urged people desiring to travel to the US to apply early and ensure that the visa requests are tied to events.
“Folks that are seeking visas should apply early; make sure that the plan is for as long as they can.
“This is because we do acknowledge that there is a backlog, and we will do what we can to make sure people that need a warrant visa to the US can get them,” he said.
