Coronavirus: US Consulate Cancels All Visa Applications In Nigeria

United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria has cancelled visa appointments amid the increase in coronavirus cases in the country.

The Embassy sent text messages and email to applicants who already had confirmed interview dates on Wednesday.

“As of March 18, 2020, the United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria is cancelling routine nonimmigrant visa appointments,” the mail seen by BusinessDay read.

The embassy added that it “will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.”

Meanwhile, the mail also stated that the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee will remain valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment.

For those that have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, it instructed that they follow the guidance provided on its website to request an emergency appointment.

Federal Government issued a travel ban on 13 countries over the spread of the Coronavirus. The countries include China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland.

The restrictions are part of Nigeria’s efforts to avoid the pitfalls that greeted by the late response of countries that now have high cases and widespread of the Corona Virus which they are now battling to control. The ban came after five new cases were reported in Lagos on Wednesday.