In a letter to Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., Debra Heien, chief of the consular section for the U.S. in Nigeria, said one applicant "could not articulate anything about the project. . . . The only thing he said was that he built his own house."

A second applicant, she said, "had not filled out his form properly. He was told to correct the errors and return before the morning intake was completed at 10:30 a.m. He did not come back."

She advised: "Should the applicants decide to apply again, they must make appointments using our on-line appointment system."