Despite pandemic, U.S. visa application surged by 2.5%
Susan Tuller, the United States Mission Country Consular Coordinator in Nigeria, on Tuesday disclosed that the number of Nigerian students who applied for visas increased by 2.5 per cent for the 2019/2020 school year despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Tuller who spoke during the US Consulate’s Visa Day celebration in Lagos said this made it the eighth year in a row that the percentage has increased.
According to her, the number of student applicants has reduced globally, but Nigeria has over 13,000 students currently studying in the U.S.
Welcoming students who will soon be leaving for their programs in the U.S., she said “While student visa numbers have gone down worldwide due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, student numbers from Nigeria were up 2.5 per cent for the 2019/2020 school year, the eighth year in a row the percentage has increased.
“Currently, there are over 13,000 Nigerian students – and soon a few more! – studying in the United States,” Ms Tuller said while explaining that despite the disruption of operations due to the pandemic, the U.S. will continue to prioritise student visa applications from Nigeria.
“While the pandemic has impacted consular operations, reducing the overall number of applicants we can schedule, Mission Nigeria continues to prioritise student visa applicants.
“So far in 2021, we have interviewed over 2500 student applicants, and we will continue to prioritise student visa appointments throughout the summer months.”
The coordinator advised students who have been accepted at a U.S. university but have not applied for a student visa to do so, in order to obtain an appointment before the school term begins.
Ms Tuller further noted that “Higher education plays a central role in U.S.-Nigeria relationship.
Nigeria sends more students to American colleges and universities than any other country in Africa and is the eleventh largest source worldwide of international students to the United States.
Our EducationUSA Advising Centers in Lagos, Ibadan, Calabar, and Abuja work to make a U.S. education more accessible to Nigerian students.”
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Nigeria’s rural electricity programme powers five million people, creates 5,000 jobs: UN
UN has highlighted Nigeria’s rural electrification programme as a successful example of expanding electricity access through targeted subsidies and private investment.
States
Nigerians urged to promote culture to foster national cohesion
The speaker of the Nasarawa assembly has urged Nigerians to protect, promote, and sustain their cultural heritage to foster national cohesion, peace, and tolerance.
States
Nupe, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba showcase heritage in Niger
Ethnic groups in Niger showcased their rich cultural heritage at the second edition of ‘Rep Your Tribe’, an event aimed at promoting cultural diversity.
NationWide
Plane Crash: NiMet warns airlines of dust haze, thunderstorms in latest weather alert
“Airline operators are advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning of their operations,” it said.
Politics
Tinubu targeting two million votes in Osun, Yari tells Ooni
Mr Yari said the APC was targeting up to two million voters in Osun. Records from the August 15 governorship poll showed 2,339,233 registered voters, but only one million voted.
Opinion
Will a Nobel solve the world’s Trump problem? The president thinks so
It’s a tragedy that the Trump White House is wantonly destroying the world order of peace and security and damaging institutions that the U.S. was at the forefront of building.
