The United States government has issued a strong warning to Nigerian travellers, cautioning them about the severe consequences of overstaying their visas.
According to the US Mission in Nigeria, violators could face bans ranging from three years to a lifetime, depending on the length of their overstay.
In a post on its official X handle on Monday, the US Mission stated that consular officers have full access to travellers’ immigration records, making it impossible to evade penalties for visa violations.
“If you overstay your US visa, you could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States. Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations. There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’ – it is your responsibility to use your visa correctly,” the statement read.
The penalties for overstaying a US visa are strict, Overstay of more than 180 days but less than a year attracts a three-year ban.
Overstay of more than a year results in a 10-year ban while repeat offenders or serious violators risk a lifetime ban.
The warning comes amid concerns raised by the Nigerian government regarding the deportation of its citizens from the United States.
On February 16, 2025, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, met with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., to discuss the issue.
She revealed that 201 Nigerians are currently detained in US immigration centres, with 85 cleared for deportation. The Nigerian government urged the US to ensure deportations are conducted with dignity, in line with international conventions.
“With the new US administration in place, we expect commitments to ensure that, if repatriation occurs, it will be done with dignity,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
She also highlighted the economic impact of deportations, noting that many Nigerians in the US support their families back home through remittances that fund education and daily needs.
“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?” she questioned.
