US GUARANTEES STRESS-FREE VISA PROCESS FOR NIGERIANS

The U.S Consul General, Jeffery Hawkins has assured Nigerians seeking to migrate to the United
States under its various visa categories will worry less over visa procurement, as a smooth and
successful visa processing is promised to them.
The assurance was made during a meeting to usher in United States bi-national commission's
build-up dialogue with the Nigerian government.
The development would ensure that every Nigerian intending to migrate to the U.S for various
reasons is given special consideration, given the fact that both countries have maintained
consistent and cordial bi-national relations in various key areas of their economies.
Hawkins, who indicated that Nigeria was the United States' most important partner in Africa ,
given its demonstration of a high degree of friendship, trust and cooperation for tangible
progress on critical issues of both countries' mutual interest, added, "For Nigerians who wish to
visit the United States, my goal is to ensure that the visa application process comes as painless
and pleasant as possible. This is because we have invested in new staff, installed new
equipment and overhauled our processes, so as to provide Nigerian visa applicants with the best
of visa services."
He also stated, "The wait time for non-immigrant visa appointment is now just a fraction of what
it once was, in order to ensure that Nigerians are not kept waiting for more than they would want
to."
The consul general who expressed the need for applicants to desist from submitting fraudulent
documentation, the number one reason for denial visa, implored all intending visa applicants to
ensure that they provide the consulate with authentic and stipulated visa requirements in order
to avoid visa denial or ban as the case may be.
In other words, applicants who submit fraudulent documentations to the U.S Consulate for their
visa processing would have to accommodate the sad end that such singular action would cause
them.
It is important for applicants to note that the U.S consulate has several detective devices to
ensure that they process only documentations from the right Nigerian issuing authorities.
In view of the foregoing, therefore, applicants who provide fraudulent documentations and or
uncompleted embassy stipulated requirements in relation to required visa types, are bound to
either have their visa application returned or denied.
1.5m Nigerians grow US economy
It is estimated that more than 1.5 million Nigerians resident in the U.S, and about 31,000 United
States citizens resident in Nigeria, have invested enormously to the growth of the economies of
both countries.
This number of Nigerians reportedly migrate to the U.S yearly, as immigrants, tourists, students
and workers, and presently. Nigeria has about 7,000 of its bright young populace pursuing
higher education in various academic fields in universities across the U.S.
The engagement may have contributed to the U.S government's proposed invitation of a very
special set of young Nigerians with track records of leadership and services to their communities
to visit the U.S in 2014, through the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders platform.
Under the platform, selected fellows will be moved to top American universities for trainings in
entrepreneurship, management and leadership. This is expected to be seconded with internship
and job opportunities at top companies in Africa.
These commitments to an extent confirm the fact that both countries are seriously engaged in
efforts aimed at promoting cordial bi-national relationships to achieve good and productive
ideas, which in turn they both would benefit from.
United States consul general in Nigeria, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, said, "Each year, a handful of young
officers at the Consulate mentor and support 15 young Nigerians who have ideas for community
service projects. Subsequently, the United States Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative, CYFI,
and the results regularly astound me, because the Carrington fellows have touched the lives of
tens of thousands of their fellow Nigerians, and they have themselves developed into more
capable and confident leaders."