The United States Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria are the gatekeepers of families; as they decide who does and who does not join their family in the United States of America.  

In March of 2020, embassies around the world closed down due to the global pandemic ensued by Covid-19. This was a difficult time for everyone in the world and especially K1 Visa Petitioners who had to deal with canceled interviews, non-transferring of files from NVC to the Consulate General in Nigeria, as well as separation from their loved ones with no clue as to when the Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria would resume services.  

Finally, in October 2020 the Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria resumed limited visa services. This included the processing of CR/IR Visas (Spousal); B Visas (Business/Tourist); and F/J/M Visas (Student). The Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria refused to start processing K Visas (Fiance) at this time. 

After weeks of waiting, several U.S. Petitioners reached out to the Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria to inquire about the wait period. Representatives of the Embassy and Consulate informed U.S. Petitioners that they would not be processing K1 Visas due to and not limited to the following: (1) Understaffed Offices; (2) Covid-19; (3) Presidential Proclamation 9983 Restrictions; and (4) Unknown. 

All of the aforementioned reasons are unacceptable for an Embassy and Consulate General. Some U.S. Petitioners have been waiting for there K1 Visa to be adjudicated from as far back as August 2019. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General has made it very clear that all other visa processing is more important than K1 Visas. These U.S. Petitioners have been separated for too long without adequate reasoning as to why their Visa processing has not resumed. Some petitioners missed the birth of their children; important family events; and death of loved ones who would have attended the marriage ceremony if K1 Visas were being processed. What the Embassy and Consulate General is doing is not fair. As a U.S. Citizen, we have the right to choose who we want to marry and we shouldn't be penalized/punished because we found love oversees in Nigeria. Every month since the resumption of services in October 2020 the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria has increased issuance of visas in every category except for K1 visa. These governmental agencies are handing out hundreds of student and tourist visas while fiance's waiting on K1 visa processing have been put on the back burner. One of the reasons why the United States made K1 Visas a priority is because of the negative impact of long separation on the relationship of two people who are intending to marry.

We are asking that the Embassy and Consulate General in Nigeria immediately resume the processing of ALL K1 Visas and reunite loved ones. K1 Visas are not to be ignored and it is more important now than ever before that families are allowed to be together. 

If you agree with us, we ask that you join us in solidarity and sign our petition... will you do that? 

#LoveIsNotTourism #ResumeK1Visa #LoveIsEssential #MakeK1MissionCritical