United States government has approved a new simplified visa application process for Nigerians applying for non immigration visa to the United States beginning from March 1.
This was disclosed by the Consular Coordinator for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Walsh, in a media briefing held yesterday at the United States Public Affairs office in Lagos.
According to Mr Walsh, starting from March 1, all applications for non-immigration visa would be submitted online via the Internet as applicants were required to complete a new application form called the DS-160.
He explained that the DS-160 form was an interactive online form that replaces all past application forms as the non-immigration visa applicants would just print a confirmation sheet to bring to their interviews.
The Consular Coordinator reminded applicants that providing accurate and complete information when filling the online DS-160 application was important. “Incorrect or missing information will cause delay in completing your interview. Applicants should save an electronic copy of their DS-160 application in case changes are necessary,” he added.
Analysing the new simplified visa process, the Non-Immigration Visa Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Nigeria, Mr. Ian Hillman, said it involves six steps namely; opening the website at https://ceac.state.gov/GENNIV; choose where you desire to be interviewed; fill in the form; reviewing the DS-160 application for errors; submit the application and finally print the confirmation page.
Mr. Hillman said the new visa application process reduces paperwork, saves time and increases the number of visa applications processed and that only the visa form and the way applicants submit it had changed as all other eligibility and documentary evidence for visas remained unchanged.
The U.S. government introduced the new visa application process as a worldwide effort at using the new technologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of visa application process.
It has been in use in selected U.S. embassies across the world but will become the standard visa issuing process by April 2010. Currently, the old visa application and submission process can be used alongside the new simplified online process until February 28 when DS-160 becomes mandatory.
[url]http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=28161
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this went into effect in april, people have been using this system for a while now.

I predict a new industry , touts agents  helping people to fill and submit form online. Nigeria and Helep me culture

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I don't think perfoming genuine services for folks is necessarily a bad thing. Some folks could fix their cars themselves, others pay mechanics to do it.

are you one of them ?

Pittbaby:

are you one of them ?

One of whom? As I said, there's nothing wrong in performing genuine services and getting paid for it. Some folks may not know how to fill the forms or answer the questions. There might be those who can do such thereby filling a need and getting paid for it even though others could do it for free. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

i see your point, nothing wrong . As long as no one is guaranteeing a visa from helping fill out the form

^^^^^^

At time, i wonder why someone who is going to
usa cant fill form themselves,


SHALOM

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Some folks are uneducated parents/siblings who are going to visit their children/grandchildren nieces/nephews. What should they do then?  And of course there are forms and there are "forms". Filing a form wrongly could produce a negative response. Life is not always black white. If that's the case there'd be no need for immigration lawyers. Why I'm I even preaching to the choir, isn't that what you're supposedly doing for folks "helping" them to get Schegen and USA student visas?

Just wanted to point something out regarding this topic. I was refused an entry visa to attend an important award for working for humanity but I was refused an entry visas and i received a lot of complains from my colleagues that I should have consulted a travel agent that they are in the best position to put me through years after I consultant an agent and fill my details including my academic qualifications and work experience but was refused on the two occassions but found out of recent that he change my qualification and fill the schools i never attended and the places i never worked and i some other application mixed both but i will love to know how he signed for me online without my presence though he did not give me a copy of the application as i thought he used my information i filled and i will really want to know how he submitted the D-160 US application form and signed it

@ babatunde977 I really feel your trouble and it has happened to my friend as well. Travel Agent can fill the US Application form for you online and it easier because he will just click yes to agree and submit as if It was you and the reason he filled out different higher qualifications for you or work experience was because he thinks the consular can Issue out visa for you regarding that not knowing the consular can ask you the name of your school or where you work ann then you answer wrongly and your visa is being denied but you wont know because the agent will not give you the information he filled in your application online sorry bro!

Ha-ha ha dem do carry you for local[color=#990000][/color] agent just dey interested for your money mehhn and since you now aware agent fill wrong info for you just call embassy or send email to them or else if you continue to apply for us consulate you will be denied