The United States Embassy in Nigeria has sounded an alarm, declaring that the U.S. visa expiration date does not determine the duration of stay in the country.
This was contained in a public advisory issued by the Embassy on July 17, 2025, via its official X account.
The Embassy emphasized that the length of time a Nigerian traveler can remain in the U.S. is decided by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the port of entry, not the date stamped on the visa.
“The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the United States is determined by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer upon your arrival, NOT your visa expiration date,” the post reads.
The Embassy noted that the clarification on the U.S. visa expiration date is necessary for travellers to pay attention to their I-94 form to avoid costly immigration missteps.
A visa, they explain, is a ticket to request entry at a U.S. port and not a guarantee of how long an immigrant can stay.
Upon arrival, a CBP officer evaluates each traveler and assigns an “Admit Until Date” recorded on the I-94 form.
This date is the real deadline for departure, and ignoring it could jeopardize future travel plans.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this advisory comes on the heels of recent changes to U.S. visa policies for Nigerians, which have sparked heated discussions.
The policy which had been effective from July 8, 2025, saw the U.S. Department of State slashing the validity of most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerian citizens to single-entry permits valid for just three months.
The U.S. Department of State said the policy is part of a “global reciprocity realignment.”
