Apply for an Expedited Appointment

Overview

If you have an unforeseen travel need as per one of the criteria listed below, you may qualify for an expedited expedited appointment depending on availability at the Embassy or Consulate. It is important to ensure you meet all the criteria, because applicants are only allowed to create one expedited appointment request.

Qualifications

Before you apply for an expedited appointment, you must ensure that you have documentary evidence to prove the urgency. If it appears during your visa interview that you misrepresented the reasons for expedited travel, such facts will be noted on your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your visa application. All applicants requesting an expedited appointment are required to first pay visa fees for a regular visa appointment. Applicants who are granted an expedited appointment but subsequently refused a visa at either the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will not be allowed to utilize this option in either location to obtain another expedited appointment.

Please Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. For such travel, please schedule regular visa appointment well in advance.

    Medical Needs

    Purpose of travel is to obtain urgent medical care, or to accompany a relative or employer for urgent medical care.

    Essential documentation:

    1. A letter from your doctor in Nigeria describing the medical condition and why you are seeking medical care in the United States.
    2. A letter from the physician or hospital in the United States indicating that they are prepared to treat the case and providing the approximate cost of the treatment.
    3. Evidence of how you will pay for the cost of the treatment.

    Funeral/Death

    Purpose of travel is to attend the funeral of or make arrangements for repatriating the body of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent, or grandchild) in the United States.

    Essential documentation:

    1. A letter from the funeral director stating the contact information, the details of the deceased and the date of the funeral.
    2. You must also present evidence that the deceased is an immediate relative.

    Urgent Business Travel

    Purpose of travel is to attend to an urgent business matter where the travel requirement could not be predicted in advance.

    Essential documentation:

    1. A letter of invitation from the corresponding company in the United States attesting to the urgency of the planned visit, describing the nature of the business and that either the U.S. or Nigerian company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

      2. OR
    2. Evidence of a necessary training program in the United States of three months duration or less, to include letters from both the Nigerian employer and the U.S. company providing the training. Both letters should include a detailed explanation of the training and explain why either the U.S. or Nigerian company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

    Students or exchange visitors

    Purpose of travel is to begin or resume a valid program of study in the United States within 60 days when no regular visa appointments are available. This option is limited only to students and exchange students who are within 60 days of their start date. It is also limited only to applicants who have not been refused a visa within the last six months at either the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

    Essential documentation:

    1. Original Form I-20 or DS-2019 indicating start date of program within 60 days.
    2. Evidence that you have paid the SEVIS fee (when applicable).

Applying for an Expedited Appointment
    Step 1

    Pay the visa application fee.

    Step 2

    Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

    Step 3

    Schedule an appointment online for the earliest available date. Please note that you must schedule an appointment before you can request an expedited date. At the time you schedule your appointment, you will see an onscreen message showing the earliest available appointment date, which includes expedited appointments. Accordingly, you may find that it is not necessary to request an expedited appointment because there are no earlier dates available. If you wish to proceed with requesting an expedited appointment, then complete the Request Form or contact the call center to request assistance. Please be sure to note the criteria you believe qualifies you for an expedited appointment. Once you have submitted your request, please wait for a response from the Embassy, which will come via email.

    Step 4

    If the Embassy approves your request then you will receive an email alerting you to schedule your expedited appointment online. Please understand that the call center cannot schedule your expedited appointment for you, but agents are able to assist you if questions arise. Should the Embassy deny your request for an expedited appointment, you will be notified of the denial by email and you should keep your existing appointment.

    Note: The email confirming or denying your request will come from no-reply@ustraveldocs.com. Some email applications have rules which filter unknown senders into a spam or junk mail folder. If you have not received your email notification, please look for the message in your junk and spam email folders.

    Step 5

    Visit the U. S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos on the date and time of your interview. Bring all required documents with you.