Headlines
US Embassy’s Suspension of Drop Box Visa Processing – What It Actually Means
By Eric Elezuo
The United States of America Embassy in Nigeria, on Tuesday, suspended the interview waiver application for Nigerian travellers.
In a message on it’s website, the Embassy declared as follows:
“The Embassy and Consulate of the United States in Nigeria has suspended the interview waiver ‘drop box’ application process effective May 14, 2019”.
This means in effect that anyone who has previously been issued a US Visa no longer stand an automatic chance of renewal as regards interview waiver. In other words, the applicant is expected to undergo thorough process of visa issuance as if he us applying for the first time.
According to the CEO, 1860 Travels, Olusina Francis Daudu, this “simply means that all visa categories that had enjoyed interview waiver before now must now attend an interview to secure their visa.”
He added that “Before now, any applicant that had been issued a B1/B2 (Visitor) visa qualified for the interview waiver except they personally choose to attend an interview, in as much as this is sorted within one year after the previous visa expires.
“Those who have been following trends with U.S Immigration, won’t be too surprised about this development. Quite a lot of reforms have been going on since the assumption of the current U.S Government,” he said.
The suspension for now applies to only Nigerian travellers, and no reason has been given for the new regime.
Mr Olusina also stressed that the announcement really changed nothing as the situation has been on before now.
“Consequently, they just legalised an existing phenomenon. It is only those who are no aware of goings on with the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria that will feel surprised” he said.
The implication, according to industry watchers and practitioners is that the number of Nigerians entering the United States will drastically reduce in relation to the fact that even those who already have visas are denied entry.
The US Embassy has said that it’s action is to provide more effective service and ensure that only legitimate travellers are attended to and granted entry into US soil.
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
