A new artificial intelligence-powered platform, Approvable.app, is targeting errors and inconsistencies in visa applications blamed for thousands of rejections, following revelations that Nigerians lost an estimated N48 billion in visa application fees from refused applications to the United Kingdom, Schengen countries and the United States in the past year.
The platform, founded by Taiwo Ojo, is designed to help applicants identify mistakes, discrepancies and weaknesses in their visa applications before submitting them to foreign consulates and paying non-refundable application fees.
Ojo disclosed this during an interview on Adamimogo FM Nigeria, Ibadan, where he said about 184,000 Nigerian applications to the UK, Schengen countries and the United States alone were rejected in the past year.
He identified inconsistencies between information supplied in application forms and supporting documents as one of the most common reasons for visa refusals, explaining that applicants often provide details that their documents cannot substantiate.
He further cited figures showing that more than 32 million visa applications were submitted globally for five destinations covered by the platform, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Schengen countries.
According to him, approximately 7.2 million of those applications were rejected, with about 1.15 million refusals attributed solely to clerical errors, administrative mistakes and mismatches within applications.
Explaining how Approvable.app intends to address the problem, Ojo said the platform uses artificial intelligence to examine applicants’ documents and compare them with information supplied in their application forms and the published visa requirements of their intended destinations.
He said the system identifies inconsistencies, highlights weak areas and points out missing supporting evidence, enabling applicants to correct potential problems before submitting their applications.
Unlike conventional government checklists, Ojo explained that the platform also examines published refusal grounds, official guidelines and relevant case files, including decisions from cases that have gone through judicial review.
He said the technology can also help applicants who have previously been refused visas by analysing their refusal letters, explaining the reasons for rejection in plain English and suggesting areas that require attention before they reapply.
Ojo said the platform’s full-price service would cost approximately N50,000, describing the payment as an insurance-like investment aimed at helping applicants protect the money and effort committed to their applications.
He maintained that Approvable.app would complement rather than replace human immigration agents, adding that agents could also use the technology to identify errors and improve the quality of applications prepared for their clients.
He, however, clarified that the platform was not a law firm, did not provide immigration advice and could not guarantee visa approval.
Ojo announced that Approvable.app would officially launch on November 3, with users able to access it through its website and download its mobile applications from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store from the launch date.
He also disclosed that the platform offers a free artificial intelligence chatbot called AI Consulate, which allows users to ask questions about visa requirements and changes in immigration regulations.
Interested applicants can access the platform through Approvable.app or contact its support team via WhatsApp on 08064470643.
