Important Update: Effective January 1st, 2025, you MUST visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process.
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 give you an opportunity 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 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.
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.
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.
It is important that you 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.
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 10:00am to 3:00pm 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 fee for pick-up.
All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to 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,
Iternational 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
You should bring the following items to your medical exam:
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.
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 prior to 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.
When your examination is completed, the doctor will provide you 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 on your interview letter.
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 prior to 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.***
Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:
For family-based visa applications:
If you are married: Your original marriage certificate.
If you or your spouse were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, and a photocopy.
If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence, any countries where you lived for more than one year after the age of 16, and any country where you have been arrested. If you previously submitted a police certificate to NVC, it is more than two (2) years old, and you still live in that country, you must obtain and bring a more recent police certificate to the interview as the one you previously submitted will have expired.
For employment-based visa applications: Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.
If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records.
If you have served in any country’s military: Military records.
If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents.
If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.
If you are the petitioner’s sibling or parent: The petitioner’s original birth certificate.
If you are the petitioner’s sibling or parent: The petitioner’s original birth certificate.
If you are the petitioner’s fiancé(e): One photocopy of all documents in addition to the originals.
If you are a V92 or V93 applicant: One photocopy of all documents in addition to the originals.
Rescheduling or cancelling your interview
If you are unable to attend your visa interview appointment, please sign into your account at https://www.usvisaappt.com/visaapplicantui/login. PLEASE NOTE: There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment. For some family-based and employment-preference visa categories, there is also no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you request to reschedule your interview.
Please note: You need to create an account online with our customer service provider (see Step 1) before you can reschedule an appointment. Rescheduling is only possible on a date after the initial interview appointment date assigned to you by NVC.
Security screening procedures
All visitors to the U.S. Consulate General must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Consulate General security personnel will be unable to enter the Consular Section. To avoid delaying your entry and the entry of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.
Accompanying Persons
Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. Only the following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:
Immigrant visa fees
If you have not paid all required fees to either the National Visa Center or via the appointment website, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or Naira. We accept cash or American debit or credit cards. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found here.
Do not make travel plans outside of Nigeria
If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the U.S. Consulate General while we and print the visa. Please take this into account when making travel plans. We will alert you via SMS and email when your passport is ready to be picked up (see Step 1 for information about the required online registration for this service).
A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.
If more information is needed
Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because the officer needs to review additional documents, or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter listing the documents you are asked to submit. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the U.S. Consulate General or how to submit the documents online. Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Please wait at least 60 days after your interview before inquiring about the status of your case.
What happens after visa approval
Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – Please review your visa, located inside your passport, to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will only give you a sealed envelope if your visa class requires it. This envelope contains documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities at the first port of entry in the United States. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, also have these in your carry-on bags and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.
USCIS Immigrant Fee: All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) visa.
When You Should Travel: You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six (6) months from the date of your medical exam. Your visa cannot be extended, and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Children of U.S citizens must enter the United States before they turn 18 years old; otherwise, they lose the ability to automatically become a U.S. citizen under the Child Citizenship Act. Children of LPRs who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing immigrant status unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act.
Getting a Green Card: Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you provide on your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Children’s Issues: In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custody papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.
Information for New Immigrants: Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.
Last Updated: 11/25/2024
2 Walter Carrington Crescent
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
