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

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

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

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.”

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

“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.

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.

“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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.