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US Warns Nigerians: Visa Expiry Date Does Not Determine How Long You Can Stay
The United States Mission in Nigeria has cautioned Nigerian travellers that the expiration date on a US visa does not determine how long they can legally remain in the United States, as Washington intensifies scrutiny over visa overstays.
In a reminder posted on its official X handle on Sunday under its #VisaWiseTravelSmart campaign, the Mission said the length of stay is determined solely by US Customs and Border Protection, CBP, officers at the port of entry.
“Reminder! The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the United States is determined by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer upon your arrival, NOT your visa expiration date,” the Mission stated.
It explained that a US visa only grants permission to travel to a US port of entry and request admission.
“The CBP officer determines your ‘Admit Until Date’ upon your arrival, and you can check the date upon which you must depart online at http://i94.cbp.dhs.gov,” the Mission added.
The advisory comes amid increased US attention on visa overstays by Nigerian nationals. US immigration data and recent policy statements show Washington is focusing more on countries with high rates of non-compliance, with Nigeria among those flagged for review.
The Mission warned repeatedly that overstaying the “Admit Until Date,” even with a valid visa, can result in immigration violations, cancellation of existing visas, and ineligibility for future US visas.
US authorities have expressed concern in recent years over rising global visa overstays. Nigeria has been specifically mentioned in US Department of Homeland Security reports as one of the countries with notable overstay rates among student and visitor visa categories.
Official data shows Nigeria has a B-1/B-2 visitor visa overstay rate of 5.56 per cent, while the overstay rate for student and exchange visas, F, M, and J, stands at 11.90 per cent.
In response, the US Mission in Nigeria has ramped up its #VisaWiseTravelSmart public awareness campaign to educate applicants on visa rules, interview preparation, and compliance after travel.
Officials noted that visa overstays do not only affect individual travellers but can also lead to stricter visa processing for other Nigerians, including longer wait times and increased documentary requirements.
Vanguard reports that with thousands of Nigerians applying for US visas monthly for education, business, and tourism, the Mission urged travellers to check their I-94 records immediately after arrival and depart before their authorised date to protect their travel history.
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