Nigeria Embassy London Worst Management

JJM,

postal visa application is easy. I really believe that if you have a Nigerian name and you are only applying for a tourist 3 months visa, you should get your visa in about 7-10 days; without needing to go to London. Call them in the afternoon to verify what you need to send (its the same as what is online, really).
Then send everything by Special Delivery - be mindful of the postal strikes but Speial delivery will get there in a day. Fill out a self-addressed special delivery envelope - you can get one for free at a post office; just add the stamps (£4.95).

Dont mind their possible rudeness and lack of professional customer service - they are trying their best with the process but perhaps a little stressed and not used to speaking to people properly - one even told me that they get all sorts of people being arrogant to them and not following simple instructions and process.

Good luck - you should never need to go to London. *Lastly, you can pay for everything by Postal Order - no need to use the online payment. Postal order has a 10% charge but its no biggy compared to using a website that has a TROJAN on it.

thanks Chis J. that sounds a breeze. May give it a try.

that fear will forever be there unless the passport is being sent by special courier service(hardly with Nigerian HC)

Well lets see. Will let you know what option I go for.

 

@ono1,  am a bit confused by the 3 day express visa. did you have to buy 140 postal order (£20 for processing the £70 visa and £50 for the express service. could you kindly explain how the 3 day express service works. wht documents did you submit,  i do no want to sound thick but did u have to leave your passport and collect two days later.
i called them to ask how the three day service works,  but i was told to come in with all my documents. the guy was damn rude, he did not wait to me to answer the next question before he hang up, maybe he spent the night on the sofa.lol

@Favour

Same happened to me while applying for my daughter, i think the system just changed cos it wasn't like that before, i'll advise you to go ahead. However, I wil advise you to confirm your interview date at least a day before you leave because it can change without you even knowing!

in my own case i just used my Nigeria address because the program will prevent you from entering any address except Nigeria's but make sure you choose London as your interview office.

well, I decided to apply for my family's visa in person rather than by post. All things being equal, it was not too bad. Spent about 2 hours to submit, our naija people as usual tried queue jumping, which thankfully was not tolerated by that "hard woman". In any event I was ready to pounce on the lady that tried to jump the queue.

Picking up was a week later(Monday 9/11) and again I got there for the 3.30 time given(passport collection is between 3.30-4.30) but no news , nothing until 4.15 when it was announced that they are now ready to deal with visas. Collected mine by 4.40 and was out. So by Nigerian standards it is not bad.

However, I was speaking to a  couple of oyinbos(one in person and the other agent), who say that the Nigerian embassy has not changed as it lacks organisation and customer service. One pointed to the "hard woman" and said "that one in particular is so rude, she does not need to work with people, ever again". Inasmuch as I agree with him, sometimes that is what we Nigerians need.

Overall, pretty painless(perhaps I am a glutton for punishment). So got my visa and am ready to roll.