The United States Mission in Nigeria has assured that the relocation of routine visa processing from Abuja to Lagos will not affect the operations of the US Embassy in the Federal Capital Territory.
The clarification followed the United States Department of State’s decision to realign routine visa services in several African countries to designated regional visa hubs, effective August 1, 2026.
The US Mission Nigeria, in a statement shared on its official X account on Monday, explained that the development was limited to routine visa processing and did not amount to the closure of any embassy or consulate.
It said the affected diplomatic missions would continue to perform their other functions despite the changes to visa operations.
“The realignment of routine visa processing does not change the operating status of any of the embassies and consulates or the important work they continue to conduct on behalf of the American people,” the mission said.
The State Department had earlier announced that Abuja was among several locations where routine visa services would be transferred to regional hubs.
Under the new arrangement, applicants from affected countries are expected to schedule their appointments and pay applicable fees at designated locations providing routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services.
For Nigeria, Lagos has been designated as a regional visa hub.
The State Department said the realignment was aimed at strengthening national security, improving efficiency and ensuring greater consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication.
It noted that the measure was not new, adding that similar arrangements had previously been implemented in other parts of Africa and Europe.
The changes cover routine visa categories, including tourist and business visas, petition-based nonimmigrant visas and various immigrant visa categories.
However, the department stressed that visas that are already valid would not be affected by the new arrangement.
“This does not affect any currently valid visas,” it stated.
Applicants who had already scheduled appointments at posts where routine visa services have been discontinued were advised to check their emails for specific instructions from the department.
The US government also said affected immigrant visa applicants could complete mandatory medical examinations in their home countries, where approved panel physicians were available, or at their designated regional visa hubs.
The latest development means that Nigerians seeking routine US visa services previously handled in Abuja will now be directed to Lagos, while the US Embassy in Abuja will remain open and continue its diplomatic and consular responsibilities.