The United States Mission in Nigeria has warned that visa overstays by some Nigerian travellers could negatively affect legitimate applicants seeking entry to the US, including students, business travellers, and families.
In a post on X on Monday, the mission said non-compliance with visa terms reduces opportunities for responsible applicants and stressed the need for adherence to travel rules. It also encouraged reports of visa fraud through dedicated confidential email channels, under the hashtag #VisaWiseTravelSmart.
The warning follows concerns raised by US authorities over Nigeria’s visa overstay rates. Data from the US Department of Homeland Security, referenced in a December 2025 presidential proclamation, showed a 5.56% overstay rate for short-term visitor visas (B1/B2) and 11.90% for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories).
These figures contributed to a US policy introduced in January 2026 that partially restricted visa issuance for Nigerians in certain categories, alongside other countries, due to overstay and security concerns. Existing visas issued before the policy remain valid.
Further tightening followed in March 2026 when the US expanded a visa bond requirement to several countries, including Nigeria. Under the rule, some applicants for visitor visas are required to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000, depending on risk assessment.
The US Mission noted that while most Nigerians comply with visa rules, violations by a minority have led to stricter measures that affect broader travel access.
