No fewer than 100,000 Nigerians applied for the United States visas both in Abuja and in Lagos in 2011, Consular Chief, US Consulate General in Lagos, Mr. Carl Cockburn, has said.

Cockburn said at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday that more than 50 per cent of the number were granted visas.

He insisted that the cost of processing visa applications remained $140, saying applicants were not expected to pay for visas.

Cockburn said, “About 100,000 applications were received in both Lagos and Abuja last year. Of the number, more than half were given visas.

“We wish to reiterate here that the cost of processing visa applications remains $140. However, clients are not supposed to pay for visas. All these explanations become necessary because of the mysteries surrounding the visa service that we provide.”

He also advised applicants not to consider visa interview as an obstacle, saying it was meant to establish some facts about claims made by the applicants.

He said, “Applicants should not consider visa interview as adversarial. They (applicants) have to be forthcoming in answering questions for the embassy or Consulate General to ascertain their mission.

“Through such one-on-one interaction, we expect the applicants to convince us on why he or she is travelling and other salient reasons. If, in the course of interaction, we are not convinced of their mission, the visa is rejected.”

He said the demand for American visas increased by more than 20 per cent in 2011.

Cockburn said the embassy had put a lot of resources into fraud detection, warning that fraudulent claims relating to visa issuance by applicants would not be tolerated.

The Non-Immigrant Visa Chief, Suzanne Grantham, warned visa applicants against patronising touts.

Grantham said, “Make your own appointments online. If somebody tells you that you need to pay for a visa, know the person is a fake. We do not pay for visas. It is only the visa application fee that is paid for, and it remains $140.”

On US Diversity Visa, he advised applicants to always check the result of the lottery online as the only real source.

link http://www.punchng.com/news/100000-nigerians-applied-for-us-visas-in-2011/

interesting, about 100,000 pple,
that said it all.

And then WHAT?!

so, less than 0.0007% of Nigerians are interested in going to Great America,

Thats very low. No one wants to go any more?

More than half given Visas?

Over 50% granted US visa?? I am heading there this morning

And how many do they issue the visa to, fraudsters collecting money for visa they knew very well they would issue, Nonsense

100,000 people? To me it's too small

Which means they made $14 million I think consular business is a good business!! Am sure their airways would have made close to $50 million dollars as well excluding those who were based in US and visited. Now I can see why they still sit put in spite of all the BH wahala!!!

Hmmmn. Thats like at least 2billion naira. (tourist wisa is 140dollars). Times am by 155naira, then times 100,000, too much money!. I wonder how many pple from usa apply for naija visa, maybe 2000 in a year, lol

Atigba:

And how many do they issue the visa to, fraudsters collecting money for visa they knew very well they would issue, Nonsense

You don't have to apply.

That is a very small number but than again most Nigerians don't have relatives in the states. Many of my relatives have been giving Visas over the past few years to the US and Canada. All my cousins have now graduated from universities in the states and are living a very comfortable life.

100,000 X 100 dollars

sorry its X140 dollars lolz slavery continues!

Dem no even plenty sef.

How many American citizen apply for Nigeria visa

$14,000,000 for year on visa APPLICATION ONLY.WOW

That's a lot of money.

wow, 50 wetin? tsssssh taxi oya make we go amelican embassy

Who is sure of the number that got visa

i wonder why people running there, maybe they arent aware they are having economic issues, you you have friends there, they will share their experience, true friends n not the forming onces

stayreal:

That is a very small number but than again most Nigerians don't have relatives in the states. Many of my relatives have been giving Visas over the past few years to the US and Canada. All my cousins have now graduated from universities in the states and are living a very comfortable life.

Post slavery on credit mmmmmtchew. All dem economy don collapse finish. Na bail out all of them dey find. Com dey steal we money for we korokoro eye dey take support them dead economy.

Chinanews.com:

December 14th, the number of Chinese citizens who have applied for a visa to the United States has reached 1 million, for which the US Embassy held a special visa issuing ceremony. US Ambassador Gary Locke personally presented American visas to 6 applicants.

According to Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs Charles Bennett, from October 2010 to September 2011, the US embassy and consulates in China have already received 1 million visa applications. Compared to statistics last year, the number of applications has increased by 34%. Compared with statistics five years ago, the number has doubled.

“China now makes up about 11 percent of the total visa workload for the United States around the world. I think that’s a real significant number because it really does show the strength of our social and economic ties,” he said.

He also said that the visa approval rate is also very high, that of these 1 million applicants, 90% have successfully obtained visas.

Gary Locke said that the US embassy is making efforts to shorten the time to get visa interview appointments to one week. The embassy will also increase the number of visa officers, increase working hours, and add more windows for visa interviews. Moreover, he also hoped to extend the duration of visas for all Chinese people from 1 year to 5

So whats the big deal about 100,000 if the Chinese Visa application is 1million within the space of 1year

hugooh42:


So whats the big deal about 100,000 if the Chinese Visa application is 1million within the space of 1year

But they have at least a billion people compared to your 150million people, ever thought about that?

[size=18pt]As an African American I say welcome, the more the merrier! 

FYI To fellas: There is a "shortage" of eligible Black men here in the US. [/size]

As an African American I say welcome, the more the merrier!

FYI To fellas: There is a "shortage" of eligible Black men here in the US.

Eligible bachelors you mean . The figure is exclusive of my application. I need to get there too,

:p

A.Chigozie:

[size=18pt]As an African American I say welcome, the more the merrier! 

FYI To fellas: There is a "shortage" of eligible Black men here in the US. [/size]

How about we black women?