US Ends Routine Visa Services in Abuja, Transfers Operations to Lagos
The US Mission in Nigeria has announced that routine visa services at its embassy in Abuja will end on August 1, 2026. The mission stated that applicants must now process their visas at the Consulate General in Lagos, which is the newly designated regional hub.
This move is part of a broader realignment of visa operations across Africa, aimed at strengthening national security and improving efficiency. The US Department of State clarified that the consolidation of visa processing at select regional hubs will maintain rigorous security screening while aligning resources with America's national interests.
The affected cities include 20 locations across Africa, including Lagos, Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Kinshasa. The realignment affects both non-immigrant and immigrant visa categories, including tourist, business, and petition-based visas.
Applicants are advised to schedule appointments and pay the required visa fee at the US Consulate in Lagos. Those with existing appointments at affected posts should check their emails for specific guidance, as visa fees paid at posts with limited services from August 1 will not be refunded if appointments are not booked by July 31.