US Embassy stops routine visa processing in Abuja, moves services to Lagos

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The United States Embassy in Abuja has stopped processing routine visa applications, directing applicants to the US Consulate General in Lagos for such services.

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The embassy disclosed this in a reminder issued on its official X account, stating that the new arrangement took effect on August 1, 2026.

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The embassy said, “Routine visa services are only available at the Consulate General in Lagos. Effective August 1, 2026, U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications.”

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It, however, clarified that applicants who already had scheduled appointments would still be attended to, although some appointments might have been rescheduled.

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“All applicants who already have scheduled appointments will be honored; however, those dates may have been rescheduled. Those with appointments in Abuja should check their email for their new appointment date,” the embassy said.

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The mission also said applicants with unused and still-valid MRV visa application fee receipts could use them to schedule new appointments at the US Consulate in Lagos.

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“Additionally, applicants holding an unused and still-valid MRV (visa application) fee receipt may use it to schedule a new appointment at U.S. Consulate Lagos,” it added.

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The development followed the U.S. Department of State’s decision to realign routine visa operations across Africa to designated regional hubs.

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The department said the move was aimed at strengthening national security through more uniform screening, vetting and adjudication standards, while also improving efficiency.

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Lagos was designated as Nigeria’s regional visa hub under the new arrangement, alongside other centres including Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Yaoundé.

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Recall that the U.S. government had stated that the change affects routine visa processing and does not amount to the closure of the Abuja embassy.

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The State Department said the realignment covers both routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services, including tourist and business-related visas, petition-based visas, family preference and employment-based immigrant visas, among other categories.

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