https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-290745.192.html

Hello everyone,

The thread above is now outdated, I'm pleased to say

After reading the thread above, I was trembling and physically shaking before I went to the Nigerian embassy, London

I joined a queue before opening hours. We all stood quietly apart from a quick "morning, morning" and asking if we were in the correct queue

Then the doors were opened and a man started letting people in. You had to show your documents at the door before you were allowed inside. Some people had nothing so were refused entry. Some said they wanted to apply for emergency passports but still weren't let in - he told them to apply online (one woman said she wanted to travel next week and had already bought her ticket) - she was still refused entry "go and apply online".

I got inside and was given a ticket (there's ticketing machine there). You get given the ticket for the purpose of your visit. I was 607. The visa application machine started at 600 and there were 2 counters dealing with this. I was called to the counter within 30mins (I went there laden with newspapers and books and water as I thought I would be there the whole day). The airconditioning was on full blast - I almost asked them to turn it down (the old thread said the place was very hot and someone passed out. If anyone had passed out on the day I went there, it was because they were cold) lol.

There were about 8 counters (the staff sat behind a glass screen). They pressed a button and a voice will call you to the counter "Can ticket number 1 please go to counter 2 please"; "Can ticket number 601 please go to counter 4 please". They pressed it at least 3 times before moving on to the next ticket number (no crazy woman yelling - maybe she had been sacked )

I asked a lady sitting next to me if she came there often as she looked like some kind of agency woman (file with lots of passports and application forms). She said she was there daily. I told her that I was dreading visiting the place as I had heard lots of nasty things. She said it was bad about a year ago but improved since they fixed the place up, installed a screen and ticketing machine.

So, there you go newbies to the Nigerian Embassy. No more fear

I couldnt' get the visa as the lady at the counter said my husband needed an Invitation letter from someone with a Nigerian passport. She wouldn't accept my invitation of him despite being Nigerian (because I don't hold a Nigerian passport). Fair enough. So I am going back next week

And to the cynics out there, I DO NOT WORK FOR THEM. Tufiakwa!!!

Ok thank God,things are gettin better

@ Omo Alata

Good job, like i said b4, the place has improved, it took me 2wks to get my new e-passport.

I thought it is called The Nigerian high commission.

erm madam, you went to apply for a visa which is pretty much straight forward

the process is different from applying for a passport but still better than previous years

What about the size of the place?

the Basement feel, no alternative for buggy pushers and wheelchair users

@ OP

I can confirm ur claims . . . .I was there to renew my passport less than 2 weeks ago.
I was shocked at the high level of professionalism displayed at the embassy, its nice to see the nigerian government get something right.
They service was not perfect. . .but it was better than the service I received at the british council in Lagos some 3 years ago.

Good to hear, let them extend it to other Nigerian High commision offices.

Dis Guy:

erm madam, you went to apply for a visa which is pretty much straight forward

the process is different from applying for a passport but still better than previous years

The previous thread didn't differentiate between collecting visas or otherwise  and I'm not a madam

It's a good development

Lol i hope visa go turn garri now

good job

Rano walks in. . . .feels somehow bored with the topic. . . .Rano walks out singing JOJO - U'r D wrong man 4 D job!

It took me a week to get my own passport

how easy is it to obtain the e nigerian passport nowadays

^^ As easy as the word "EAZY". Just get urself the "E" and u'll be giving the pasport. now isin't that EASY?

hahaha, very unfunny

any serious responses please

justwise:

@ Omo Alata

Good job, like i said b4, the place has improved, it took me 2wks to get my new e-passport.

Did you say 2weeks?
Like 14 days?
I don't believe you.

Cor Blimey!
My interview date is set for November and i applied for the bloody E-passport early last month.

same here. a friend applied few days ago and he was also given november date
typical naija, confusion extravaganza

OMO IBO:

Did you say 2weeks?
Like 14 days?
I don't believe you.

Cor Blimey!
My interview date is set for November and i applied for the bloody E-passport early last month.

Believe me, it was even less than 2wks, i went there last March, when i was booking online, my first interview date was set on April i reshedule it and got March 22, i was there at mid-day and left 5pm and i was told to come back on the 31th of same month. When u got there, i waited for less than an hr and my name was called i went, signed and collect my e-passport.

on the other hand Nigeria Embassy in Spain,Madrid is TRASH

justwise:

Believe me, it was even less than 2wks, i went there last March, when i was booking online, my first interview date was set on April i reshedule it and got March 22, i was there at mid-day and left 5pm and i was told to come back on the 31th of same month. When u got there, i waited for less than an hr and my name was called i went, signed and collect my e-passport.

justwise, isit true they dont really look at your interview date at the door in the morning on the day of your appointment, because the interview dates they keep giving is just inhumane lol, months ago u can reschedule but now its impossible.

i rang immigration office in lagos and abuja, they both redirect me to nigeria house, london and guess what, london redirect me back to lagos saying its out of their control. i tire oo

Please who knows how much it is to renew Nigerian passport at the London embassy?

[size=24pt]THANKS TO AJUMOGOBIA!!![/size]

I didn't know Ajumogobia is the Ambassador to the Uk, Thought he only became the minister some few months ago

segzeybaba:

justwise, isit true they dont really look at your interview date at the door in the morning on the day of your appointment, because the interview dates they keep giving is just inhumane lol, months ago u can reschedule but now its impossible.

i rang immigration office in lagos and abuja, they both redirect me to nigeria house, london and guess what, london redirect me back to lagos saying its out of their control. i tire oo

I'm not sure if they do but i'm 100% sure that they will ask for the postal order.

segzeybaba:

justwise, isit true they dont really look at your interview date at the door in the morning on the day of your appointment

You can try. Go there with all your docs. Make sure everything is intact. Once you are in, you get given a ticket. Fingers crossed

Thank God. My last experience was not very pleasant.

Thanks @Justwise and @omo-alata

Postal order not a problem, only £20, will try, hopefully they dont turn my ass back home sha.

Finger crossed.

Dis Guy:

I didn't know Ajumogobia is the Ambassador to the Uk, Thought he only became the minister some few months ago

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs he is responsible for all the Embassies

It cost $65 online for the Nigerian e-passport and you pay a further £20 postal order at the High Commission. You need to book online at which point you will be given a date, usually months in the future. You can press the reschedule button online for a closer date but as a previous poster has mentioned this doesn't seem to give you another date.

The High Commission is getting better, but there are still buts,

I have my son endorsed on my wife's Nigerian passport, and now have another baby on the way, do we endorse this on the same passport?

By the way, it is not an e-passport so would this be a problem?

Thanks in advance.