SIR: I want to express the harrowing experience I passed through at the United States Embassy in Lagos. On Monday, June 8, 2015, I had appointment for 10.30 am, and being the president of Lions Club International, organizers of the 98th International Convention in Honolulu Hawai, USA, on June 26; I had no doubt that I would spend no time at the embassy.
There were so many touting activities at the entrance, but that did not bother me as I had nothing to do with them. As I walked down some metres before reaching the first immigrant/visitor queue centre, I began to feel like an alien in my own country, wondering if the immigrant system is a means of generating funds for the U.S. or exploitation on the part of immigrants.
Each immigrant paid N31, 200 visa fee, which is payable at the bank. We had a roll call of over 1,000 people per day who applied. The batches formed on the queue are another terrible experience. Over 10 batches are arranged between 7am to 12noon daily, according to information I gathered.
However, I passed through the first entrance to second and third entrances at about 1.30pm only for a security man to direct me to window No.4. On getting there, I met a slim lady who asked me why I wanted to go to America. I told her I want to attend an international conference as the President of Lions Club. She asked again if I have ever travelled before, I replied, no.
She asked where I work and how much I earn and I told her I work in a media house. I answered all questions to the best of my knowledge only for her to bring a blue printed letter and returned the two passports to me.
She said: “Sorry, you did not meet the requirement this embassy demands from immigrants, go and read the information on the letter, if you wish to apply again.”
My disappointment is not having the visa but that Nigerians are being treated like third-class citizens in their own country. The process of application is designed to fail many applicants. Why wait until the last process to tell someone that he is not qualified? Why deny someone like me who has been given a letter of invitation a visa? The services by the embassy staff are not encouraging.
The government should tackle insecurity, electricity, roads and unemployment. When the government provides basic needs like the ones mentioned above, Nigerians will not be so much in a hurry to travel out of the country, thereby reducing the long queues at the embassies.
As for the U.S. embassy, I have submitted the letter of invitation, payment for my accommodation, letter of employment and other requirements. I therefore, appeal that visa be granted to enable me go for the conference.
