U.S. Ambassador, Consular Chiefs Highlight "Good Neighbor" Efforts to Improve U.S. Visa Process in Abuja and Lagos
(May 26, 2009)

Ambassador Sanders responding questions at the press event. | FULL SIZE

U.S. Ambassador Robin Renée Sanders, along with her two Consular Chiefs, Victoria Coffineau (Abuja) and Richard Walsh (Lagos) today provided a briefing and tour of the U.S. Consular Section for members of the press and government officials to highlight steps the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has taken to ensure the best possible experience for Nigerian applicants for a U.S. visa.   The program, which took place in the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, also included presentations by the Abuja and Lagos Consular Chiefs and a representative of VFS Global, which manages the Abuja and Lagos visa appointment system for the U.S. Mission. 

Opening the presentations, Ambassador Sanders "We welcome visitors to the United States, and we want your experience to be positive from the day you apply for your visa.  However, applicants must also appreciate the rules of our immigration laws and understand that visa issuance is not an entitlement.  Even if you do not receive a visa, we want you to have a comfortable experience through the process.  Therefore, we have
• Partnered with VFS in a program to improve the on-line visa application process.
•  Upgraded facilities here in Abuja and are working on the Lagos site to improve the safety and comfort of applicants coming for their visa appointments. 
• Just begun a complete renovation of the Consular Section at the Consulate General in Lagos. 
• And we continue to train our staff to maintain the highest levels of customer service. 
This is our commitment to you."

Presentations by the Abuja and Lagos Consular Chiefs and representatives of VFS Global provided further details on U.S. immigration law, the visa application process and the steps the U.S. Mission is taking to make the experience of applying for a U.S. visa as smooth as possible.  They also walked the guests through a tour of the interviewing area from start to finish.  The program concluded with a lively round of questions from the media.