The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued an important reminder to Nigerian travellers, clarifying that the expiration date on a U.S. visa is not the same as the date a visitor is expected to leave the country.
In a notice posted on July 17 via the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the U.S. Mission emphasized that the length of time a visitor is allowed to stay in the U.S. is determined at the port of entry—not based on the visa’s expiry.
The statement explained that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers decide how long a traveller can remain in the country when they arrive, and that information is recorded on the I-94 form, which can be accessed online.
“A visa lets you travel to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter the country,” the embassy clarified. “However, how long you may remain is decided by the CBP officer at the time of entry, not the date your visa expires.”
Travellers were urged to check their I-94 “Admit Until Date” at i94.cbp.dhs.gov, as it provides the exact date by which they must depart the U.S.
The embassy’s message comes as part of efforts to educate travellers on proper visa use and prevent unintentional overstays, which can lead to immigration complications and future travel restrictions.
By reinforcing this distinction, the U.S. Mission hopes to ensure that travellers are fully informed about their responsibilities when visiting the United States.
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