The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the immediate disengagement of Online Integrated Solution (OIS Services), the company that operated Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres in the United States.
The development means that Nigerians and other applicants in the US seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly to Nigerian diplomatic missions.
NIS Ends Contract with OIS Services
In a public notice issued on Thursday, the Nigeria Immigration Service stated that OIS Services has been officially disengaged from collecting and submitting visa applications on behalf of Nigerian missions in the United States, effective immediately.
The service had previously handled visa applications through designated centres across the US.
New Submission Process for Applicants
According to the notice, all applicants 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 change affects prospective travellers and Nigerians residing in the United States who require visas to enter Nigeria.
Implications for Visa Applicants
The disengagement is expected to affect the visa application process for many Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those who previously used the services of OIS centres for convenience.
Applicants are advised to visit the official websites or contact the relevant Nigerian missions in the US for updated guidelines on the new submission process.
Nigeria operates visa application centres through third-party operators in several countries to ease the process for applicants. The sudden disengagement of OIS Services in the United States has raised questions among applicants about the reasons behind the decision and the timeline for any new arrangements.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has not provided further details on whether a new operator will be engaged or if the direct submission model will continue indefinitely.
