The US has suspended its visa Dropbox service in Nigeria, requiring all applicants to attend in-person interviews for renewals. This change is expected to increase visa processing delays, affecting students and business travelers. The Dropbox option has been quietly removed, raising concerns over extended wait times and policy uncertainties.
The United States has discontinued its visa Dropbox service in Nigeria, requiring all visitor visa applicants to attend in-person interviews for renewals. This policy shift eliminates the previous exemption that allowed eligible travelers, particularly those with recent US travel history, to renew visas without attending interviews.
The decision has raised concerns among Nigerians, as visa interview appointments were already experiencing long wait times—some stretching over a year. Business travelers, students, and frequent visitors now face additional hurdles in securing timely renewals.
Although the US Embassy in Nigeria has yet to make an official statement, reports confirm that the Dropbox option has been quietly removed from the visa appointment booking system. Applicants attempting to schedule renewals have noticed that the feature is no longer available.
This change is expected to further extend the already lengthy visa processing period. As of January, Lagos had stopped offering Dropbox slots, pushing many applicants to seek alternative appointments in Abuja. With this latest development, all applicants must now go through full in-person interviews, returning the process to its pre-2020 structure.
There are speculations that this removal could be linked to ongoing immigration policy changes stemming from executive orders issued under former President Donald Trump. The decision’s impact is expected to be significant, affecting thousands of Nigerians who rely on the Dropbox service for faster processing.
Many applicants have expressed frustration over the sudden change, calling for clearer communication from US authorities regarding visa policies.
