The United States Embassy on Monday said in Nigeria its visa officers are not always happy denying the visa applications of Nigerians.
The embassy made the clarification in a Facebook post following repeated complaints by Nigerians over their treatment by embassy visa officials.
The embassy in a bid to allay the fear of visa applicants, has asked Nigerians to tune into a live Facebook talk at 2 pm on Wednesday.
A Facebook post read in part, “Contrary to popular opinion, visa officers do not enjoy handing anyone the 214b refusal letter.
“Proof: Visa Officers will be live on Facebook to talk about some of the commonly misunderstood questions on the DS 160 and help you improve your next application.”
As expected many Nigerians were sceptical in their responses and disagreed with the embassy’s explanation on its Facebook page.
Akufai Valentine Jonah, recalled how he was denied a visa despite obtaining a scholarship in 2013.
She wrote, “I had a terrible experience in 2013. I got a scholarship to attend a conference in Denver but was denied a visa. I was not angry because I was denied a visa. I was angry with the manner of the disrespect from the consular officer.
“Imagine giving one that refusal letter and you are told ‘off you go’ without any tangible explanation, after reading the letter, it states that I don’t have strong ties to my country either through being married, neither do I have a job and back then I used to work with an NGO and it was clearly stated in my application. I have forgotten the third excuse.
“I just laughed and left, I know people who are single then and are still single today that have got US visas. I know people who have no job but have got a US visa, I know people who had zero travel records but were granted US visa. Since that episode, I have never ever applied for a US visa because I don’t have any business there for now.”
Another Nigerian, Ufoeze Ugo said she was rejected after informing the officer she wasn’t married.
She said, “To think I stood before a staff and the first thing he asked me was What does your husband do? I answered “Sir, I am not married” the next thing I heard was sorry ma you are not qualified for this visa. So it’s now a must to be married.
“When people are sincere they are denied, I can’t lie because I want to go to another man’s land. Anyway na me find them go. Till Wednesday afternoon.”
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