Visa Services in Chaos as Nigeria Fires US Operator

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has terminated its contract with Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services), the third-party company that previously managed Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres across the United States.

The decision, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi.

Following the termination, all visa applicants are now required to submit their applications directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the country’s Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.

Although the NIS did not disclose the reasons behind the decision, Akinlabi assured applicants that the Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States have put adequate measures in place to ensure seamless visa submission, processing and issuance.

“Travellers seeking Nigerian visas are now required to submit their applications directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Consulates of Nigeria in New York and Atlanta until further notice,” the statement read.

He urged prospective applicants to monitor the official communication channels of the NIS and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.

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‎Akinlabi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to efficient service delivery, noting that the NIS remains focused on improving the visa application process.

The development comes amid ongoing Federal Government efforts to streamline consular services, enhance efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks in visa processing for Nigerians in the diaspora and foreign nationals seeking entry into the country.

In recent years, stakeholders in the immigration and travel sectors have called for greater transparency and increased government oversight of visa processing, citing concerns over delays and additional costs associated with third-party service providers.