Boko Haram does not affect issuance of US visas to Nigerians -Consulate

The American Consulate has said that the threat of the dreaded religious fundamentalists, Boko Haram, does not affect the issuance of American visas to prospective Nigerian applicants.The Consular Chief of the United States Consulate General in Lagos, Mr Carl Cockburn, made this assertion on Tuesday at a press conference organised on non immigrant visa by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the consulate.'Religion has nothing to do with the issuance of American visas. It has nothing to do with visa issuance; visa issuance is an individual thing that cannot be categorised into any format like ethnicity or religion.'He added that patronising touts did nothing good as it affects their business adversely. 'The touts mess up our business by making operations difficult. Some people patronise touts and if for some reasons like on public holidays, we have to bring their appointment dates forward, getting them on mail or phone becomes impossible as the agents they pay to make appointments for them also go on vacation and as a result, we do not get across to them. So, applicants should not pay people to make appointments for them as it makes visa processing tedious for consular officials.'He noted that the embassy did not collaborate with any agency on visa issuance except the applicants themselves, adding that the American President, Barack Obama is presently interested in people that can contribute to the development of the American economy.
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