The Nigeria Immigration Service has suspended the services of Online Integrated Solutions, the company operating Nigeria’s Visa Application Centres in the United States, and directed applicants to submit regular visa applications directly through Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.
The suspension took effect in July 2026 and will remain in force until further notice, according to a statement by the immigration service. The directive affects Nigerians and other residents in the United States seeking entry visas to Nigeria through the affected visa centres.
Under the new arrangement, applicants who require regular Nigerian visas are expected to submit their applications through the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the Consulate-General in New York and Atlanta. The affected centres were previously handled by OIS Services.
E-visa platform remains active
The immigration service clarified that the suspension does not affect Nigeria’s electronic visa system.
Eligible travellers can still apply through the official e-Visa platform, which remains operational. The agency said the notice applies only to visa submissions previously handled through OIS Services in the United States.
This clarification is important for travellers who may be unsure whether the suspension affects all Nigerian visa channels. For now, the change is limited to physical or regular visa submissions in the US.
NIS promises smooth transition
The Nigeria Immigration Service said it had put measures in place to ensure that visa submission, processing and issuance continue without major disruption during the transition.
The agency also advised applicants to follow official updates from the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the United States for further guidance on the new process.
For many applicants, the change means they will need to rely more directly on embassy and consular channels rather than third-party visa application centres.
What applicants should know
The suspension could change how thousands of travellers in the United States apply for Nigerian visas, especially those who were used to submitting documents through OIS Services.
Applicants seeking regular visas should now confirm the latest submission instructions from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the Nigerian Consulates-General in New York and Atlanta before beginning the process.
Those eligible for the e-Visa route should continue to use the digital platform.
Although the immigration service did not link the suspension to recent US immigration policy changes, the development comes at a time when visa rules and travel procedures involving Nigeria and the United States are receiving closer attention.
BusinessDay reported that the United States had introduced stricter immigration measures affecting Nigeria and other African countries, including partial visa restrictions and visa bond requirements for some applicants.
A service change with wider implications
The suspension of OIS Services is more than an administrative adjustment. It shifts a key part of Nigeria’s visa process in the United States back to direct government handling.
That could give Nigerian missions more control over the application process, but it may also require clearer communication to avoid confusion among applicants.
For now, the message from the immigration service is straightforward: regular visa applicants in the United States should use the embassy and consulates, while eligible e-Visa applicants should continue online.
The success of the transition will depend on how quickly applicants receive clear instructions, how efficiently the missions handle increased traffic and how well the immigration service keeps the public informed.