The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced updated visa interview requirements that will take effect from
April 22, 2025, for applicants attending interviews in Abuja and Lagos.
According to an official statement released by the embassy, all visa applicants must present a DS-160 visa
application form that includes a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA00”, a strict match with the barcode used to
schedule their interview appointment. Any mismatch will result in denied entry to the consular section.
Applicants are advised to double-check their barcode alignment at least two weeks before their appointment. The
embassy emphasized that DS-160 forms from previous applications cannot be reused, and incorrect entries must be
corrected via the AVITS account no later than 10 days before the interview.
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In cases where barcodes do not match, applicants must resolve the issue and reschedule a new appointment. If the
original visa fee has expired, a new payment may be required before rebooking.
The embassy also clarified that interview appointments must be held at the same location selected on the DS-160
form. Applicants showing up at the wrong location may be denied access and must reschedule their interview.
These procedural changes are part of broader U.S. efforts to streamline visa processing, reduce administrative errors,
and enhance security measures for applicants traveling from Nigeria.
