The United States government has cautioned Nigerians about the severe consequences of overstaying their visas, warning that offenders could face permanent bans from re-entering the country.
The US Mission in Nigeria issued the warning in a post on its X page on Monday, stressing that immigration authorities have full access to an individual’s immigration history, making it nearly impossible to evade penalties for past violations.
*”If you overstay your US visa, you could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States.
Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will be aware of any past violations.
There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’—it is your responsibility to use your visa correctly,”* the US Mission stated.
Under US immigration laws, individuals who overstay their visa for more than 180 days but less than a year may be subject to a three-year ban from re-entering the country. However, overstaying beyond one year could result in a 10-year ban.
The warning comes amid the US government’s continued enforcement of strict immigration policies. Under former President Donald Trump’s administration, immigration enforcement was significantly expanded, with a focus on deporting undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records.