United States Mission in Nigeria has warned travellers that overstaying visas could attract permanent ban and criminal prosecution.
In a statement on Monday, the mission said excuses such as “honest mistake” are not tenable.
“If you overstay your US Visa, you could face a permanent ban on travel to the United States as well as criminal prosecution.
“Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations.
“There is no such thing as ‘honest mistake’,” the mission warned, adding it is the responsibility of individuals to use visas correctly.
Donald Trump, who took over power for the second term on January 20, 2025, vowed mass deportation of “criminal aliens” who illegally gained entry into the United States.
Already, mass raids have been carried out at homes, schools, workplaces, and shopping centres where undocumented immigrants were picked up and deported to places like India, Guatemala, Nigeria, among others.
Mixed reactions have trailed Trump’s immigration move with some commending his action while others begrudge it.
Last Friday, the United States said it was terminating the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, giving them weeks to leave the country. The order affected around 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who came to the United States under a scheme launched in October 2022 by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and expanded in January the following year.
Nigeria has a significant diaspora in the United States. As of 2015, approximately 376,000 Nigerian immigrants and their children resided in the U.S., making Nigeria the largest source of African immigration to the country. This diaspora plays a crucial role in Nigeria's economy, with remittances reaching $19.5 billion in 2023, accounting for 35% of sub-Saharan Africa's total.
The U.S. Mission's recent warning serves as a critical reminder for Nigerian travelers to comply strictly with visa regulations to avoid severe consequences, including permanent bans and criminal charges. This development underscores the importance of adhering to immigration laws, especially in light of the current administration's stringent policies.
