Lagos, Nigeria — Frustration is mounting among over 300 Nigerian students who secured admission into universities across the United States but are yet to receive their student visas, weeks after attending scheduled interviews at the US embassies in Lagos and Abuja.
The affected students, connected through a WhatsApp group of 301 members, voiced concerns over the prolonged administrative processing, which they say threatens their chances of meeting fall semester resumption dates.
The delay is linked to changes introduced during former US President Donald Trump’s administration, including a suspension of F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa interviews in May, and stricter screening policies requiring students to disclose five years’ worth of social media activity. The screening, critics say, has led to longer wait times and increased denials, often without explanations.
Adding to the applicants’ woes is the newly introduced $250 “Visa Integrity Fee,” and a shift from the open-ended “duration of status” policy to fixed visa terms of two to four years. These changes have compounded the uncertainty Nigerian applicants face.
Abdul Oluwa, a student admitted to an Ivy League institution in Ithaca, said he has been left in limbo. “I was interviewed on June 17 in Lagos. The visa officer assured me that it would be approved in two weeks. Forty-five days later, there’s still no update,” he said.
He also lamented the impact of shifting visa rules, stating, “Before July 8, I qualified for a two-year multiple-entry visa, but now, only a single-entry visa is offered. It feels unfair.”
Similarly, Tobi, a University of New Mexico student, said his July 1 interview has yielded no outcome, while peers from Ghana and Bangladesh who interviewed the same day have received their visas. “I am supposed to resume on August 16 and sit for an exam starting August 11. I can’t plan or travel because I’ve heard nothing since then,” he explained.
Olu Seyi, another applicant, echoed the sentiment. He told Saturday PUNCH that he was informed of additional social media vetting following his June 13 interview in Abuja. “I was told I’d hear back before my school resumes on August 11, but there has been no communication. Many of us are missing opportunities, and our passports are still with the embassy,” he said.
On social media, an X user identified as @OwolabiClassic, a fully funded PhD student, appealed to the Nigerian government for diplomatic intervention. In a post, he said, “We completed our interviews over a month ago, yet many of us still await approval. Some students from Abuja even had their passports returned without explanation.”
Owolabi raised alarm over the silence from consular staff. “We are running out of time to relocate and settle in before classes start. Other countries get results within a week; why are Nigerians different?” he asked.
Efforts to reach the US embassies in Lagos and Abuja yielded no official responses as of press time.
Speaking on the issue, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that visa decisions are the prerogative of the issuing country. “The Nigerian government cannot compel the US to issue visas. That is strictly their jurisdiction,” he clarified.
However, Ebienfa noted that intervention might only be possible if the affected individuals were attending official government events, not academic programs.
Sulaimon Okewole, CEO of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, criticized the process. “Nigerian students are being kept in the dark after paying nearly N300,000 and submitting their passports. They deserve timely feedback or at least the return of their documents,” he said.
Similarly, travel consultant Omolola Oke described the visa process as outdated and burdensome. “The system places too much emphasis on in-person interviews and subjective judgments. In 2025, we shouldn’t still be judged based on body language or appearance,” she noted.
Oke urged the US to modernize its approach and adopt transparent, merit-based systems like other countries. “Until then, delays will persist—especially in high-volume countries like Nigeria,” she added.
As the new academic calendar approaches, hundreds of Nigerian students remain stranded, with their dreams of studying abroad hanging in uncertainty.
By Adeola Olaniya | August 2, 2025
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