U.S. visa overstays will result in a temporary banned status from re-entering the U.S., per the U.S. embassy in Nigeria. This is part of a larger effort to crack down on visa overstays. The length of a banned period is determined by the length of the overstay period.
Individuals who overstay their visa by 180 (one hundred and eighty) days are barred from re-entering the U.S. for three years. If the overstay period one year, the banned period is up to ten years. Overstaying a visa for over one year results in a permanent ban from re-entering the U.S.
Manny embassies are issuing three-month single-entry visas in place of the one- or five-year visas typically provided. Embassies in Nigeria also introduced a mandatory two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar integrity fee for student, worker, and tourist visas, along with non-waivable surcharges. Embassies will also be screening the social media accounts of visa applicants. This policy is subject to change and could relax in the future. Any non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025, remain valid. The change only affects those issued following that date.
The announcement highlights the importance of complying with immigration laws. Individuals visiting the United States on a non-immigrant visa should take extra care to make sure they do not overstay their visa or violate U.S. immigration law. The current guidelines are part of an ongoing review over global U.S. immigration and visa policy.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.