Nigeria Shuts US Visa Centers, Applicants Must File at Embassy or Consulates

Travelers in the United States who need a Nigerian sticker visa can no longer use the third-party OIS application centers. Nigeria suspended OIS visa processing nationwide effective July 1, 2026, according to a July 9 notice from the Nigeria Immigration Service. Applicants must now file directly with the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the Consulates General in New York and Atlanta. The centers are closed "until further notice," with no restoration date announced.

What changed

OIS previously ran the US-based centers that handled document drop-off and biometric capture. With those closed, most applicants must appear in person at the embassy or a consulate on their appointment date. Biometric capture is required, except for minors aged 5 and under and adults aged 70 and over, who are exempt from fingerprints and photos.

Because passports cannot be picked up in person, a self-addressed prepaid return envelope is now mandatory so documents can be mailed back. The published notices do not mention any fee change tied to the suspension.

The New York Consulate had signaled the move first, announcing on June 26 that consular services would shift in-house from June 29, just ahead of the nationwide suspension. It followed with revised submission procedures on July 8.

Importantly, the change does not affect Nigeria's e-Visa system, which the Immigration Service confirmed remains available for eligible travelers.

What it means for nomads

Anyone in the US with a pending OIS appointment or an unsubmitted application routed through OIS needs to restart the process through the embassy or nearest consulate. Practically, that means booking a mission appointment, potentially traveling to Washington, New York, or Atlanta if none is local, and building in extra time for the passport to be returned by mail.

Expect longer processing and more logistics, especially if you are on a tight timeline for business travel or a long-term stay. If your plans allow it, the e-Visa channel remains open and lets eligible travelers avoid the in-person queue entirely. Anyone weighing a longer stay should confirm current requirements before committing to the in-person route, since the situation is described as temporary but has no set end date.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.