By Abiola Olawale
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced new visa interview Protocols for Nigerian applicants, effective April 22, 2025.
The changes, introduced for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants in Abuja and Lagos, include a critical update to the DS-160 form submission process.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the US mission, all applicants attending interviews in Abuja and Lagos must present a DS-160 visa application form featuring a confirmation barcode beginning with “AA” followed by two zeroes.
This form, completed online, must be printed and presented at the interview. The US Mission in Nigeria also emphasized that this measure is designed to reduce errors and expedite processing times at the US Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“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.
