The United States has said the duration of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the country is determined by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, not the visa expiration date.
The US mission issued this advisory to Nigerians in a statement on Monday, pointing out that CBP officer determines the length of stay upon the arrival of the visitor.
The US mission asked travellers to check their Form I-94 for confirmation of approved duration. The form contains an “admit until date”.
A Form I-94 is needed by all visitors except US citizens, returning resident immigrants, foreigners with immigrant visas, and most Canadian citizens visiting or in transit.
Travellers are issued an I-94 during the admission process at the port of entry.
But, foreigners traveling through a land border or by ferry from selected ports may apply for a provisional I-94 in advance.
The US has continued to warn 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.
In 2025, the US joined Nigeria to a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions, citing “security and documentation” concerns.
Based on the Overstay Report, Nigeria recorded a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 11.90 percent.
