The United States Embassy in Abuja has stopped processing routine visa applications, directing applicants to the US Consulate General in Lagos for such services.

The embassy said the new arrangement took effect on August 1, 2026, as part of a wider US Department of State realignment of routine visa operations across Africa.

It said applicants who already had scheduled appointments would still be attended to, although some appointments may have been rescheduled.

The embassy advised applicants with Abuja appointments to check their email for any new appointment dates.

Applicants holding unused and valid MRV visa application fee receipts may also use them to schedule new appointments at the US Consulate in Lagos.

The Department of State said the restructuring was aimed at strengthening national security through more uniform screening, vetting and adjudication standards, while improving efficiency.

Lagos has consequently been designated Nigeria’s regional visa processing hub, alongside selected centres in Africa including Accra, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Yaoundé.

The change covers routine non-immigrant and immigrant visa services, including tourist and business visas, petition-based visas, family preference and employment-based immigrant visas.

The development does not mean the US Embassy in Abuja has been closed. The embassy continues to perform diplomatic functions and other services outside routine visa processing.