By Deborah Nnamdi
The United States Embassy has updated its visa interview requirements for Nigerian applicants, with the new rules taking effect on April 22.
In a statement released on Friday, the U.S. mission stated that all applicants attending interviews at the Abuja and Lagos consulates must bring a DS-160 visa application form showing a confirmation barcode that starts with “AA” followed by two zeros.
This barcode must match the one used to book the interview appointment online.
The embassy warned that applicants who fail to present matching barcode details will be denied entry to the consular section and disqualified from the interview process.
“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.
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.”
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.
These changes are part of ongoing efforts to streamline visa processing and reduce administrative errors.
Since January 1, all visa applicants have been required to visit the US Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application process.
