The United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has announced that Nigerian students currently studying in the US on a student visa may be eligible to renew their visas without an interview when they return to Nigeria over the winter break. 

The US Mission announced this in an official statement on Wednesday.

“If you are currently studying in the United States on an F1 or academic J1 visa, you may be eligible to renew your student visa without an interview when you return to Nigeria over the winter break,” the statement read in part.

“To qualify for this procedure, you must be physically in Nigeria, renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months and are renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.”

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When a student schedules a no-interview student visa renewal appointment, they will be able to drop off their passport at a DHL location in Lagos. The date and time to do this must be scheduled using the Consulate’s online booking system. 

The US Mission stated its committment to returning the student’s passport within two weeks from the appointment date.

To schedule a no-interview student visa renewal appointment, the student will visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions, visit a designated DHL facility to drop off their application on the scheduled date and time.

The application will contain a printout of the student’s submission letter (printed from www.ustraveldocs.com/ng), a DS-160 completed in the last six months, an approved I-20, a receipt for the student’s I-901 SEVIS fee, student’s passport containing the expired student visa (if that passport has expired, a current valid passport must be included) and a passport photograph taken in the last six months meeting these requirements.

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“If someone in your family or group does not meet the qualifications above, they must schedule a regular appointment.  Each applicant must meet the qualifications individually,” the US Mission added.

“For instance, we cannot accept a renewal for a child if the parent is the only one who qualifies under the guidelines. In that case, the child would need to schedule an appointment and come to the Embassy or Consulate for an interview,”

“Scheduled applicants who qualify for the no-interview student visa renewal based on the above criteria can cancel their appointments and re-apply at this link. During the rescheduling process, you will be asked questions confirming eligibility for the student renewal program and be provided instructions on how to submit the application through the document delivery center.”

The statement also urged those who do not qualify for a no-interview student visa renewal not to cancel their appointments.