U.S. Government Issues Stern Warning to Foreign Nationals Over Visa Overstay

The United States government has issued a serious advisory warning to foreign nationals, including Nigerians, stressing the severe consequences of overstaying U.S. visas.

In a public notice released by the U.S. Embassy, individuals who remain in the U.S. beyond the expiration of their visa validity now risk immediate deportation, cancellation of future visa privileges, and in some cases, a permanent ban from entering the country again.

“Overstaying your visa is a violation of immigration law and can carry long-term immigration consequences, including being barred from returning to the U.S.,” the Embassy stated.

Officials emphasized that visa validity and authorized length of stay are not the same—reminding travelers that a visa merely allows entry, while the duration of stay is determined at the port of entry and noted on their I-94 form. Overstaying beyond that period, even by a few days, is a legal infraction.

The warning comes amid growing scrutiny of immigration compliance under the Biden administration, which has made it a priority to tighten enforcement while managing diplomatic relations with partner nations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been instructed to increase monitoring and tracking overstays using advanced data systems.