The United States has announced a stringent new policy targeting visa fraud, declaring that individuals caught using fake documents in visa applications will face a U.S. lifetime ban.
The U.S. Mission Nigeria made this announcement on its official X handle on Monday, July 21, 2025.
The U.S. Mission in the statement maintained that the policy of a U.S. lifetime Ban was necessary to strengthen border security and curb illegal immigration.
The statement also explained that the policy targets fraudulent practices such as submitting forged bank statements, doctored academic records, or fake invitation letters.
The U.S. Mission stated: “U.S. government interagency efforts combat fraud and will end illegal immigration. Those who commit visa fraud will be banned from the United States for life.”
The announcement further stated that aside U.S. lifetime ban, criminal charges will be brought against individuals involved in visa fraud, as well as those who bring in or shelter undocumented immigrants.
Emphasizing the importance of border security and lawful immigration, the statement noted, “A nation without borders is not a nation.”
This comes after the U.S. government recently revised its visa policy for Nigerian nationals, introducing more restrictive terms for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic categories.
The new rule took effect for visas issued from July 8, 2025, and now limits most Nigerian applicants to single-entry visas valid for just three months.
The new policy is a departure from the previous policy, which allowed for longer validity periods and multiple entries.
