Washington, D.C. — The U.S. State Department has unveiled a new, immediate-effect policy for non-immigrant visas, requiring applicants to secure their interviews in their country of nationality or residence. This move effectively ends a longstanding practice for applicants from nations with long visa wait times, including Nigeria, who often traveled abroad to secure faster appointments.
The directive, which took effect immediately upon its publication on September 6, 2025, on the State Department’s official portal, explicitly states, “Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying.” The new rule overrides all previous guidelines and is set to drastically impact Nigerians who have frequently sought appointments in countries like Ghana, Canada, or the Dominican Republic to bypass significant backlogs in Abuja and Lagos.
The State Department warned that those who choose to schedule interviews outside their home country will face “significantly longer” wait times and a higher risk of visa refusal. Furthermore, fees paid for these applications are non-refundable and non-transferable.
The new policy also outlines specific designated locations for nationals of countries where routine visa operations are not conducted, such as Afghanistan and Venezuela. The move signals a broader shift in U.S. visa processing, focusing on streamlined, location-based applications.
