By Admin 
Starting April 22, 2025, the United States Embassy will implement updated requirements for visa interviews for Nigerians applying through its consulates in Abuja and Lagos.
In a statement released on Friday, the embassy announced that all applicants must present a DS-160 visa application confirmation page with a barcode that begins with “AA00.” This barcode must precisely match the one used to schedule the visa appointment.
Applicants who fail to present a matching barcode will be denied entry to the consular section and disqualified from their scheduled interview.
The embassy highlighted the importance of accuracy:
“Effective April 22, 2025, applicants must bring a DS-160 confirmation number starting with ‘AA00’ that exactly matches the number used to book their appointment. Appointments must also be scheduled at the same consular location selected on the DS-160 form.”
Applicants are advised to verify that their DS-160 barcode details align with their appointment information at least two weeks before their interview. Reusing old DS-160 forms is strictly prohibited.
If any discrepancies arise, applicants should log into their AVITS account no later than 10 days before their appointment to request corrections.
The embassy also reiterated that applicants must attend interviews at the specific consulate chosen in their DS-160. Those turned away due to mismatched information must rectify the issue and reschedule. If their visa fee has expired, a new payment may be necessary.
These changes are part of broader efforts to streamline the visa process and minimize administrative errors. Since January 1, 2025, all Lagos applicants have also been required to make two separate visits to the Consulate General as part of the application process.