United States says CBP officers set Nigerians’ length of stay

The United States clarified that the duration an international visitor may remain in the country is decided by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at entry, not by the visa’s expiration date. In a statement to Nigerians, the US mission urged travelers to verify their approved stay on the Form I‑94, which records an “admit until” date. The I‑94 is required for all non‑citizens except US citizens, returning resident immigrants, holders of immigrant visas and most Canadian visitors.

The United States warned that overstaying the admit‑until date can lead to immigration violations, cancellation of existing visas and future ineligibility. Nigeria was placed on a list of countries subject to partial travel restrictions last year for “security and documentation” concerns, with an overstay rate of 5.56 % for B‑1/B‑2 visas and 11.90 % for F, M and J visas.