The United States has issued new visa application guidelines for Nigerians, effective April 22, requiring matching DS-160 barcodes in Abuja and Lagos.
All applicants must bring a DS-160 confirmation form bearing a barcode number that begins with “AA00” and matches the one used to book their visa appointment online.
A statement from the U.S. Mission in Nigeria confirmed that any discrepancy between the DS-160 barcode and the appointment details will lead to denial of entry into the consular section and disqualification from the interview.
Applicants are also expected to attend their appointment in the same city—either Abuja or Lagos—as indicated on their DS-160 form.
The U.S. Mission emphasized the importance of double-checking application details at least two weeks before the scheduled interview.
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Applicants who discover discrepancies must log into their AVATS account at least 10 days before the interview to request correction through a support ticket.
Those turned away due to mismatched barcodes will have to resolve the issue and book a fresh appointment. If the initial visa fee has expired, a new payment will be required.
The embassy warned that DS-160 forms from previous applications cannot be reused.
For support, applicants are urged to contact the visa call centre or dial +234 2013438900 or +1 734 418 2395 if calling from the United States.
The updated policy aims to streamline the visa process and ensure all necessary information aligns across the application stages.
Crediblenewsng.com
