US Consulate to Host Pre-Departure Orientation for Nigerian Students Bound for America
The United States Consulate General in Lagos has announced plans to hold a pre-departure orientation programme for Nigerian students who have obtained valid US student visas, as part of efforts to prepare them for academic and social life in the United States.
The session is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the US Consulate General, located at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In an announcement posted on Monday via its official X platform, the US Mission in Nigeria said the programme is open to all Nigerian holders of US student visas. Interested participants are required to register in advance through an online form provided on the Mission’s X page.
According to the Mission, the orientation is designed to equip students with practical knowledge and firsthand guidance ahead of their departure. EducationUSA alumni currently studying at various institutions across the United States will lead the sessions and share personal experiences on navigating academic and social life abroad.
“The pre-departure orientation will prepare you for life as a student in the United States,” the orientation description stated. “EducationUSA alumni studying at various U.S. institutions will share information on all you need to know before you depart for the U.S.”
Topics to be covered include managing culture shock, maintaining healthy lifestyles, building relationships with professors, and integrating into campus life. Students will also receive guidance on securing on-campus jobs, becoming resident advisers, applying for Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training, and accessing internships and additional scholarship opportunities.
The programme will further address academic excellence pathways such as getting on the Dean’s List and entering honours programmes, while also tackling sensitive but critical issues including racism, sexual harassment, and mental health support.
Practical travel-related guidance will form a key part of the session, with information on what to pack, travel planning, visa renewal processes, and effective management of time and finances while studying in the US.
The orientation comes at a time of heightened concern among international students, following reports that the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement. Since January, more than 85,000 visas are alleged to have been revoked for foreign nationals, including over 8,000 student visas worldwide, largely over security and criminal concerns.
While the US Mission did not directly link the orientation to the recent visa revocations, the initiative is expected to reassure Nigerian students and provide clarity on compliance, campus conduct, and maintaining legal status while studying in the United States.
