The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced the immediate disengagement of Online Integrated Solutions, popularly known as OIS Services, as the operator of Nigeria’s Visa Application and Submission Centres in the United States.
The development marks a significant change in the country’s visa processing arrangements for applicants in the US, with prospective travellers and Nigerians residing in America now required to submit their visa applications directly at designated Nigerian diplomatic missions.
The announcement was contained in a public notice issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service on Thursday and shared through its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to the agency, the decision takes immediate effect, bringing an end to OIS Services’ role in collecting and submitting visa applications on behalf of Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service hereby informs the general public, particularly prospective travellers and Nigerians residing in the United States of America who may require a visa to enter Nigeria, that Online Integrated Solution (OIS SERVICES), the operator of Nigeria’s Visa Application and Submission Centres in the United States, has officially been disengaged from the collection and submission of visa applications on behalf of the Nigerian Mission, effective immediately,” the statement read.
Following the change, the Immigration Service directed all visa applicants to submit their applications directly to Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States until further notice.
Specifically, applicants are expected to process and submit their visa requests at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC, or at the Nigerian Consulates located in New York and Atlanta.
The service stressed that the new arrangement remains in force pending any further directives from the Federal Government or the relevant authorities.
The announcement is expected to affect thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora, business travellers, tourists, students and foreign nationals seeking entry into Nigeria through the country’s diplomatic missions in the United States.
By requiring applicants to deal directly with Nigerian embassies and consulates, the Immigration Service aims to ensure continuity in visa processing while alternative administrative arrangements are put in place.
Although the agency did not disclose the reasons behind the disengagement of OIS Services, it urged members of the public to take note of the new directive to avoid disruptions in their travel plans.
The Immigration Service also advised intending travellers to ensure they submit their applications only through the officially designated Nigerian missions to prevent unnecessary delays or complications.
The Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC, alongside the Consulates in New York and Atlanta, will now assume responsibility for receiving and processing visa applications previously handled through the private service provider.
The latest development represents a major operational adjustment in Nigeria’s consular and immigration services in the United States and may require applicants to familiarise themselves with updated submission procedures, documentation requirements and appointment schedules at the various diplomatic missions.
Observers believe the transition could initially increase the workload of embassy and consular officials as they absorb the responsibilities previously managed by the external service provider.
Nevertheless, the Immigration Service assured the public that the new arrangement is effective immediately and will remain in place until a new directive is issued.
The agency reiterated its commitment to providing efficient immigration and consular services to Nigerians and foreign nationals while ensuring that visa processing continues without interruption under the revised system.
Prospective travellers have therefore been urged to monitor official communications from the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the United States for any subsequent updates regarding visa application procedures or the appointment of a new service provider.
