The United States Embassy in Abuja has alerted Nigerians with scheduled visa appointments that their dates and times may have shifted, following what the mission described as a realignment. The notice was posted on the embassy's official X account on Sunday, September 21, 2026.
What the Embassy Said
In the notice, the embassy urged visa applicants to check their emails for specific guidance related to the realignment and to confirm whether their appointment details remained the same. The post read: "Have a scheduled appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja? Please check your email for specific guidance for visa applicants affected by the realignment and to verify your date and appointment time as it may have changed."
The embassy did not explain what the realignment involved, how many applicants were affected, or when the changes took effect. It also did not indicate how long the adjusted schedule would remain in place.
What Affected Applicants Should Do
Based on the embassy's guidance, anyone with an active visa appointment in Abuja should treat the original booking as potentially invalid until confirmed. The embassy directed applicants to the email addresses linked to their appointments for updated instructions, rather than assuming their original time slot still stands.
Showing up at the embassy without first verifying appointment details could result in being turned away, particularly if the date or time has been reassigned as part of the realignment process. The notice was addressed specifically to applicants at the Abuja mission. No similar alert was issued for the US Consulate in Lagos at the time of publication.
US Suspends Routine Nonimmigrant Visa Services in Nigeria
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States Embassy in Nigeria announced a suspension of all routine nonimmigrant visa services, covering tourist, business, and petition-based nonimmigrant visas. The embassy made this known through its official X account on Monday, August 18, 2026, describing the move as a "realignment" of visa services. No specific timeline for when normal services would resume was provided in that post.
