Visa Expiry Isn’t Your Exit Date — U.S. Embassy Cautions Nigerian Travellers on Common Misconception
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a public advisory to clarify a common misconception among Nigerian travellers: the expiry date on a U.S. visa does not determine how long a visitor can stay in the United States.
In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on July 17, the embassy explained that the actual duration of stay is set by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry, not by the visa’s expiration date.
“Reminder! The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in United States is determined by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer upon your arrival, NOT your visa expiration date. To see how long you can stay, check your I-94 (admit until date) at i94.cbp.dhs.gov,” the embassy stated.
The U.S. visa, the embassy emphasized, only permits a traveller to approach a U.S. port of entry and request admission—it does not automatically guarantee entry or specify the length of stay.
To know the exact date by which they must depart the U.S., travellers are advised to check their I-94 form, a crucial document that shows the “Admit Until Date” as assigned by the CBP officer.
In response to a frequently asked question—“I have a U.S. visa. How long can I stay in the United States?”—the embassy reiterated:
“A U.S. visa allows you travel to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter. How long you are allowed to stay in the United States is not your visa’s expiration date. The CBP officer determines your ‘Admit Until Date’ upon your arrival and you can check the date by which you must depart online at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.”
The advisory forms part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Mission to educate Nigerian travellers on proper immigration procedures and prevent visa overstays, which could harm future visa applications or international travel plans.
Travellers are encouraged to always verify their I-94 information immediately after arrival and to depart the U.S. on or before the specified date to remain compliant with immigration laws. Read More
