US Mission contacts immigrant visa applicants affected by Trump’s restrictions
The United States Mission has said that it is prioritizing immigrant visa applicants affected by the travel restrictions under the Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 signed by former president Donald Trump last year.
This followed the presidential Proclamation signed by President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, titled, “Ending discriminatory bans on entry to the United States”.
Trump had suspended entry into the United States by certain nationals from various countries including Nigeria, based on visa type.
But the US Mission, in a statement on Tuesday said its Consulate -General in Lagos had already contacted all immigrant visa applicants whose applications were affected and was prioritizing the processing of the pending cases.
It noted that media reports claiming that Nigerians denied visa on or after January 20, 2020, could re-apply for free were inaccurate , adding that the proclamation announcement applied only to certain immigrant visa cases and did not apply to tourist, business, student or non-immigrant visas.
The mission further disclosed that the consular sections in Abuja and Lagos were gradually restoring routine visa operations in accordance with Covid-19 safety mitigation protocols.
It said the validity of non-immigrant visa payments (known as the MRV fee) had been extended till September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations, an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.
“Non-immigrant visa applicants who were previously refused and would like to apply again will need to submit a new visa application (DS-160) and pay a new visa application processing fee” the mission added.
