The United States Consulate in Nigeria has interviewed over 2,500 student visa applicants so far, in 2021.
This was disclosed by the US Mission Country Consul Coordinator, Susan Tuller, in a statement issued by the Consulate.
According to the Coordinator, the Mission in Nigeria would continue to prioritise student visa applicants.
She said, “So far in 2021, we have interviewed over 2500 student applicants, and we will continue to prioritise student visa appointments throughout the summer months.
“For those students who have been accepted at a U.S. university but have not applied for a student visa yet, we encourage you to apply for your visa as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to obtain an appointment before their school term begins.
“The number of students’ visas from Nigeria to the United States increased by 2.5 per cent in 2019/2020 school year despite the global COVID- 19 pandemic that reduced the visa worldwide. It is the eighth year in a row that the percentage of Nigerian students’ visas number to the US has increased.
“While we recommend students bring supporting documentation for their study plans, they should not be surprised if the interviewing officer does not ask to see any paperwork.”
She disclosed that many students are nervous during their visa interview but urged them to relax and not memorise any speeches.
“The consular officer is not going to ask you any questions that you don’t already know the answer to. Please be prepared to answer personal questions regarding your family and financial situation,” she said.
She added that the Consulate also strongly discourages visa applicants from hiring visa vendors or touts, as they often charge high fees and provide incorrect or misleading information to applicants.
