The clarification, posted on the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, emphasized that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry determine how long a visitor can stay—not the visa itself.
“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 statement read.
Travelers were urged to consult their I-94 form, a crucial document issued upon entry, which clearly states the approved duration of their stay. Overstaying the date indicated on the I-94, even if the visa is still valid, may result in serious immigration consequences—including future visa denials or deportation.
Background: New Visa Restrictions in Focus
The reminder comes just weeks after the U.S. government announced a new visa policy affecting non-immigrant and non-diplomatic Nigerian travelers. Under the revised policy, visa validity for certain categories has been reduced to just three months and limited to a single entry. This marks a significant departure from previous multi-year, multiple-entry visas that many Nigerians were accustomed to.
U.S. officials partly attributed the change to Nigeria’s alleged reluctance to accept deported citizens. However, the embassy clarified that the new restrictions are also part of a broader global visa review, which considers various technical, security, and diplomatic benchmarks.
Avoiding Pitfalls: What Travelers Need to Know
The advisory aims to educate travelers about U.S. immigration procedures, particularly the importance of complying with the authorized stay period, regardless of visa validity. Ignorance or misunderstanding of this distinction has led to numerous cases where visitors inadvertently overstayed and faced stiff penalties.
Here’s what Nigerian travelers should keep in mind:
- Visa validity only determines the time frame during which you can enter the U.S.
- Duration of stay is determined by CBP and documented in your I-94 form.
- Overstaying your authorized stay—even by a day—can affect future travel eligibility.
- Always check and comply with the I-94 departure date, available online at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
As the U.S. tightens its immigration rules amid growing global security concerns, Nigerian travelers are urged to be more diligent in understanding and adhering to visa conditions to avoid immigration issues.