The U.S. Embassy has announced a new visa interview requirement for Nigerian applicants, which will take effect from April 22, 2025. In a statement issued Friday, April 11, the U.S. mission outlines all applicants scheduled for interviews at its Abuja and Lagos offices, must present a DS-160 Visa application form and present a confirmation visa form with “AA AA” (aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa aa” (00) (00) (00). This barcode must exactly match one of the barcodes booked for an interview appointment.
According to the embassy, failure to propose a matching DS-160 barcode will result in refusal to enter the consular department and cancellation of the scheduled visa interview. The Embassy stressed the importance of consistency between the DS-160 Form and the details of the appointment, urging applicants to confirm the accuracy of their information at least two weeks before the interview date.
The Embassy further pointed out that the DS-160 form in previous applications cannot be reused. If the applicant finds an incorrect barcode, he or she must log in to his or her Avits account at least 10 days before the interview and create a support ticket requiring correction.
Applicants must also make sure to book their interview appointment at the same location specified in the DS-160 form. Those who are turned to non-match information will be asked to correct the error and reschedule their interview. If the original visa fee has expired by the time of rescheduling, a new payment may be required.
Since January 1, all applicants have also been required to appear twice at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos as part of the updated visa application process. The Embassy stressed that these measures are designed to simplify the application process and maintain consistency in the document.
