US Embassy Introduces New Visa Interview Rules For Nigerian Applicants

The United States Embassy has announced new rules for Nigerians applying for visas, which will kick off on April 22, 2025.

In a statement released on Friday, the US Mission said anyone attending a visa interview in Abuja or Lagos must bring a DS-160 application form with a confirmation barcode that starts with “AA00.”

This barcode must exactly match the one used when booking the interview online.

If the barcodes don’t match, the applicant won’t be allowed into the consular section and will miss the interview.

“Starting April 22, 2025, all visa applicants in Abuja and Lagos must bring a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation/barcode number (starting with AA and followed by 00 – two zeroes) that matches the one used to make their appointment online. You also must make your appointment in the location you selected when filling out your DS-160.

“Matching Barcode Numbers: If the confirmation/barcode number on your DS-160 form does not match the one you used to book your appointment, you will not be allowed to enter the Consular Section or attend your visa interview,” the statement read.

Applicants are advised to verify the alignment at least two weeks before their appointment.

The statement also clarified that previously used DS-160 forms cannot be reused. In the event of a mismatch, applicants are instructed to log into their AVITS account no later than ten days before the interview to submit a correction request.

The US mission noted, “At least two weeks before your interview, please double-check that the barcode number on your DS-160 form matches the one you used to schedule your appointment.

“You cannot reuse a DS-160 from a previous application.

“If your DS-160 barcode is incorrect, you must log into your AVITS account  at least 10 days before your appointment to create a support ticket requesting correction of your barcode number.”

If someone is turned away due to a barcode mismatch, they’ll need to reschedule and possibly pay a new visa fee if the previous one has expired.

Additionally, the US mission reminded applicants to ensure that their visa appointment is scheduled at the location indicated in their DS-160 form.

“If you are turned away from your appointment because your barcode numbers do not match, once you correct the problem, you will need to book a new appointment to proceed with your visa application. You may book a new appointment by logging into your AVITS account at If your visa fee has expired, you may have to pay a new fee before booking,” it added.

The US says these new rules are aimed at speeding up the visa process and avoiding errors.

It also reminded applicants that since January 1, all visa applicants must visit the US Consulate in Lagos twice during the application process.

KanyiDaily recalls that the United States recently unveiled its list of countries eligible for the 2025 Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing travelers to visit the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days.