The United States has issued a strong warning to Nigerian nationals against overstaying their visas, stating that any violation of authorized stay could lead to deportation and a possible permanent travel ban.
The warning, issued via a post on the official X handle of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, comes amid a wave of new travel restrictions and visa policy changes introduced by the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
“If you remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future,” the embassy stated.
This follows the recent update to the U.S. visa reciprocity policy for Nigerians, which now limits non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to three-month single entries. The changes were attributed to concerns over visa overstays, national security, and documentation issues, among others.
Additionally, the U.S. introduced a mandatory $250 Visa Integrity Fee for Nigerian applicants in student (F and M), business/tourist (B-1/B-2), worker (H-1B), and exchange visitor (J) categories. Several non-waivable surcharges have also been imposed, including:
$24 I-94 fee
$13 ESTA fee for Visa Waiver Program travelers
Only applicants under diplomatic visa categories (A and G) are exempted from the new rules.
In a further tightening of the vetting process, the U.S. now mandates social media screening for all F, M, and J visa applicants. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria directed applicants to adjust privacy settings on all social media accounts to “public” to enable comprehensive background checks.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the embassy emphasized. The move, officials say, aims to verify the identity and intentions of applicants to safeguard U.S. citizens and national interests.
President Trump has consistently pushed for tougher immigration policies since taking office, signing executive orders to enforce stricter visa screening, enhance border security, and expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants.
The new policies are expected to impact thousands of Nigerian travelers, students, and professionals seeking entry into the United States.
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