The federal government has engaged the US government over
suspension of the drop box visa regime for Nigerians visiting
America, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has
said.
Onyeama however lamented most of the unpleasant migrant
decisions taken by some countries were triggered by the negative
perceptions about few Nigerians who do not obey the rules of those
countries.
He spoke on Tuesday during an interactive session with the
Diplomatic Correspondents on his stewardship.
The issue of migration is a challenge and such a sensitive topic
because the US has just suspended the drop box for visas
renewals
“And a lot of it is that they released statistics to show that
10 per cent of people who overstayed their visas globally are
Nigerians.
“Those who do not obey the rule of other countries’ have more
negative impact on those who obeyed.
“The issue of those who overstayed their visa is a real issue.
We have engaged with the US government over it.
“We are just trying to work through them and they are looking at
various alternative and solutions and to make less difficult for
the genuine visitors and the like.
“Things like you have to have guarantor or surety and the like
all those things are what they are trying to apply to really
address this prickly issue,” he said.
He said the ministry was doing what it could to ensure the issue
of the recent suspension of drop box for visas renewal does not
affect genuine visitors to the US.
“We are doing what we can they (U.S. Embassy) told me that
notwithstanding the suspension of drop box mechanism that there
would be expedited interview for certain people.
“And that there would be that flexibility to request for
interview that might make it easier for those seeking visa,” he
said.