Important Update: Effective January 1st, 2025, you MUST visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process. This guide explains in detail on new U.S. visa guidelines for Nigeria 2025
First Visit: In-Person Document Review
Your first visit to the U.S. Consulate in Lagos is for an In-Person Document Review with a consular staff member to ensure you are prepared for your visa interview. This mandatory review will allow you to retrieve any missing documents ahead of your visa interview to avoid delays in processing your application.
You do not need to schedule an appointment for the In-Person Document Review. The Consular Section will notify you via email of the document review appointment date, which will be approximately two to four weeks ahead of your visa interview.
Second Visit: Visa Interview
Your second visit is for the visa interview with a Consular Officer. The visa interview will occur on the date and time scheduled for you by the National Visa Center (NVC). If you do not complete the In-Person Document Review before your visa interview, you will be required to reschedule your appointment.
Please follow the steps below to prepare for your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria.
Step 1: Create an account online
You MUST create an account online with our customer service provider at https://www.usvisaappt.com/visaapplicantui/login. Creating an account online gives us the information we need to return your passport and documents to you after your interview.
If you need to schedule or reschedule your visa appointment, you may do so at https://www.usvisaappt.com/visaapplicantui/login after creating your online account. Rescheduling is only possible on a date after the initial appointment assigned to you by NVC.
Step 2: Get a medical exam in Nigeria
As soon as you receive your appointment date from NVC, you must schedule a medical exam in Nigeria. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctor’s offices in Nigeria. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors at least two weeks before your In-Person Document Review appointment.
Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist
You must bring all required original documents to your In-Person Document Review and to the visa interview. We have created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your In-Person Document Review along with the listed documents.
Step 4: Review interview guidelines
Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.
Step 5: Pick up documents from OIS Services
When your documents are ready for pickup following your interview, you must schedule an appointment at https://appointment.oisservices.com/. You can then retrieve your documents on your scheduled pick-up date at either of the following addresses:
- The DHL Office
Plot 230, Muri Okunola St.
Victoria Island, Lagos
or
- DHL Office Abuja
Hafsat Plaza
472 Abogo Largema St.
Central District, Abuja
Free pick-up hours are from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm every Monday to Friday, except Nigerian holidays. Scheduling is free. Visit your profile for more information on additional pick-up locations. Please note other locations may have a pick-up fee.
Medical Exam Instructions
All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination before the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Consulate General can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Consulate General. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.
Starting November 17, 2021, it is now mandatory for all applicants (who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine) to receive the full series of COVID-19 vaccinations before scheduling their medical examination. Applicants who have not taken the full dose of the vaccination will be unable to complete the medical examination process. Kindly ensure that you have taken and completed your COVID-19 vaccination before your medical appointment date.
Approved Physicians
- Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC), Lagos
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
1 Isaac John Street (At the Corner of Isaac John Street and Oduduwa Way),
GRA Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Booking e-mail: iomlagosmedicalbooking.iom.int
IOMLagosClinicalTeam@iom.int
Phone: 0807-219-1112, 0802-226-4059, 0909-215-6079 - Q-Life Family Clinic
Plot 155A Prince Ade Odedina Street
Off Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island Annex
Website for Bookings:
https://www.qlifefamilyclinic.com/usim-terms-and-conditions
Fees & requirements:
https://www.qlifefamilyclinic.com/resources/IME-US-REQUIREMENT.pdf
Email: usmedicals@qlifefamilyclinic.com, qlifecare@hotmail.com
Phone: 01-804-2000, 01-726-2840, 0702-770-4055 - Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC)-Abuja,
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
No. 55 Hassan Musa Katsina Road
Asokoro, Abuja
Booking email: iomabujamedicalbooking@iom.int, IOMAbujaClinicalTeam@iom.int
Phone: +234(0)808-522-1427, 0809-563-7898 or 0703-289-8491
Items to bring to your medical examination
You should bring the following items to your medical exam:
- Your visa interview letter,
- Your international passport and 1 copy of the biodata page,
- A copy of your immunization records, eyeglasses/contact lenses, specialist reports, and medication (if applicable)
- DS-260 confirmation page.
Please allow at least 7 days to complete the medical examination process from start to finish. Make sure that you do not book your exam more than three (3) months before your scheduled immigrant visa interview at the consulate. You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician.
During the medical exam
The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray, and blood tests. The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. All tests are concluded in a day except for applicants requiring additional investigations. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations before the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant vaccination requirements are available on CDC.Gov. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements at Travel.State.Gov.
After the medical exam
When your examination is completed, the doctor will provide you with a copy of your vaccination records and Chest X-ray CD. Your medical report will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate. You DO NOT need to bring the x-ray CD to your visa interview if it is not stated in your interview letter.
Pre-Interview Checklist
Please use the below list of items that EVERY applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview.
Any documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. You must bring the ORIGINAL version of your documents. If you do not bring the original documents, you may face significant delays in processing your immigrant visa application. In addition to the required original documents, Fiancé(e) visa and Visa 92/Visa 93 applicants must also bring one photocopy of all documents. In most cases, you must also upload the documents to your case at ceac.state.gov/iv before your In-Person Document Review appointment. Please follow the Consulate’s instructions for uploading the requested documents and bring the original documents with you. Failure to upload copies of the documents ahead of time and failure to bring the original documents to the interview may result in significant delays in processing your visa.
- A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to fiancé(e), adoption visa, or Visa 92/Visa 93 applicants).
- Unexpired passport and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).
- Two (2) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch). Please review our online photo requirements.
- Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.
- Your original government-issued birth certificate.
- Original or certified copies of government-issued birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not immigrating with the principal applicant).
- Additional identification documents used over the last 10-15 years. This may include your voter registration card, previous passports, school records, WAEC results, or any other document. ID cards that are past their expiration date may be used for this purpose.
Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:
For family-based visa applications:
- The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or tax return.
- A letter from your current or past employer verifying your income and stating your job title and period of employment.
- If you are self-employed, you should bring copies of tax returns for the last three years.
- Evidence of your relationship with the petitioner (for example, copies of phone records, travel itineraries, photographs, or copies of text messages).
For fiancé(e) visas:
- Evidence of your intent to marry within 90 days of your entry to the United States (for example, photographs, joint bank accounts, or other evidence showing your plans to marry).
- Proof of termination of any prior marriages of the U.S. citizen fiancé(e) and/or the foreign national fiancé(e) if either has been previously married.
