Lagos State has seen over a 200 per cent increase in immigrant and non-immigrant visa approvals, according to information obtained from the U.S. Department of State visa report for year 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a global lockdown, hampered the American government’s granting of visa application, creating a backlog of applications to be reviewed.

The 2022 visa report, however, suggests that the normal hustle and bustle associated with the American embassy has returned as approval numbers rose dramatically in the just-completed year. The interview wait time has also been shortened, to expedite the process.

6,815,120 non-immigrant visas in total were issued in 2022, an increase from 2.7 million in 2021.While there were 493,448 immigrant visas awarded in 2022, up from 285,069 visas issued in 2021.

The total nonimmigrant visas issued in 2022 was 6,815,120, up from 2.7 million in 2021.

While the total immigrant visa issued in 2022 was 493,448, an increase from the 285,069 visas issued in 2021.

Countries like Nigeria and the Philippines witnessed a spike in the numbers of approved nonimmigrant visas between 2021 and 2022.

In Lagos, 42,329 American visas were approved in the year 2022 alone, a high figure compared to the 11,533 visas granted in 2021.

In Manila, Philippines, 173,371 visas were issued in 2022, almost double the 84,734 visas granted in 2021.

The U.S. Department of State has boosted its staff to deal with backlogs and demand in order to shorten the wait time for non-immigrant visas in 2023.