The United States mission in Nigeria warns that the expiration date printed on a US visa does not control how long a visitor may legally remain in the country. Instead, the approved period is determined by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the point of entry. The mission issues a reminder that travellers must check their Form I-94, which records the “admit until” date granted during admission. Officials say overstaying the “admit until date,” even when the visa is still valid, can lead to immigration violations and other consequences, including potential cancellation of existing visas and reduced eligibility for future US visas.
The reports note that Form I-94 is required for most non-US citizens, with limited exceptions such as US citizens, returning resident immigrants, and certain foreign nationals (including most Canadian citizens). Travellers receive an I-94 during the admission process at the port of entry; some visitors arriving via land border or ferry from selected ports may be able to request a provisional I-94 in advance.
The reminder comes as the US increases scrutiny of visa overstays, and it follows earlier US warnings that Nigeria has faced partial travel restrictions linked to “security and documentation” concerns, with reported overstay rates cited for different visa categories.
