US PROMISES EASY VISA APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NIGERIANS

The US Consul-General, Mr Jeffery Hawkins, yesterday said that the
American government was determined to make visa application process
easier for Nigerians.
Hawkins said this in a paper he presented at the Nigerian Institute of
International Affairs (NIIA), in Lagos.
He said that the move was part of the government's effort at promoting
``people-to-people`` relationship between Nigeria and the US.
He said that the consulate had recruited additional staff and
installed new equipment in order to facilitate visa processing for
Nigerians.
``My goal is to make visa application process painless and pleasant
for Nigerians.
``I am happy to say that the wait time for Non-Immigrant Visa
appointmentis now just a fraction of what it once was.
``We can always improve more; but I am proud of the work we have done
to serve our Nigeria visa applicants, `` he said.
The envoy also restated the commitment of the US to creating
opportunities for young Nigerians to visit the US.
Hawkins said that the government had concluded an arrangement to
invite``very special set of Nigerian guests`` to the US in 2014.
The Consul-General said that the US Government would continue to
sustain its bilateral relations with Nigeria in the years ahead.
Hawkins said that a US delegation, led by Under-Secretary of State for
Political Affairs, Amb. Wendy Sherma, would be in Abuja on August 15,
for the US and Nigeria Binational Commission.
He said the visit would afford the delegation, Nigeria government
representatives and the civil society, to deliberate on security
issues, as well as other critical aspects of US and Nigeria's
bilateral relations.