U.S. says Nigerians overstaying visa risk ban

The United States Mission in Nigeria has warned Nigerian travellers to strictly comply with the conditions of their U.S. visas.

The Mission issued the advisory in a statement posted on its X account on Tuesday.

Clarifying what amounts to visa misuse, the Mission explained that remaining in the U.S. beyond the approved duration attracts serious consequences, including possible travel restrictions.

It said, “It’s important to use your US visa according to its terms. Misusing it, for example, by overstaying, may affect your ability to travel to the U.S. in the future.”

The advisory follows rising concerns over the enforcement of U.S. visa rules on compliance and application.

The U.S. Department of State reported more than 700,000 cases of visa overstays in 2023, with Nigeria listed among the top countries involved.

Under the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, overstays of 180 to 365 days attract a three-year reentry ban, while those exceeding one year result in a ten-year ban.