The United States government has intensified its clampdown on immigration fraud, issuing stern warnings to Nigerians and other foreign nationals involved in visa irregularities.
The US Mission in Nigeria has announced that anyone caught engaging in visa fraud or facilitating the illegal entry and harbouring of undocumented migrants in the United States would face severe criminal prosecution. In addition, such individuals would be permanently banned from re-entering the United States.
In a recent post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the US Mission reaffirmed the US government’s zero tolerance for immigration violations.
It stated: “The U.S. government inter-agency efforts combat fraud and will end illegal immigration. Those who commit visa fraud will be banned from the United States for life. A nation without borders is not a nation. We will pursue criminal charges against those who engage in visa fraud and those who bring in and harbour illegal aliens.”
This tough stance comes just days after the US Embassy in Nigeria praised the Nigerian government for its efforts to address recent concerns regarding visa validity. The US had earlier reduced the visa duration for Nigerians to three months with single-entry validity, prompting bilateral discussions.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Nigeria has reiterated an important clarification regarding US visa usage. In its travel advisory, the Embassy explained that the expiration date on a US visa does not determine how long a visitor may remain in the country. Instead, the actual duration of stay is determined by officers of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the point of entry.
The advisory stated: “A US visa allows you to travel to a US port of entry and request permission to enter. The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the United States is determined by the CBP officer upon arrival, not by the visa’s expiration date.
Travellers should check their ‘Admit Until Date’ recorded on the I-94 form, which can be accessed online at i94.cbp.dhs.gov, to avoid costly immigration errors.”
In parallel developments, the US Embassy in Abuja has issued a notice to its citizens living in Nigeria, urging them to comply with the Nigerian government’s new immigration policies, particularly concerning visa overstays. The advisory, published on the embassy’s website, emphasized that starting August 1, 2025, Nigeria will begin enforcing strict penalties on foreigners who have overstayed their visas.
The advisory read: “The US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that effective August 1, 2025, the Nigerian Federal Government will begin imposing strict penalties on foreigners who have overstayed their visas.
To facilitate compliance, an online immigration amnesty portal is available until July 31, 2025, allowing visitors to regularise their stay before the penalties take effect. US citizens currently in Nigeria who have overstayed their visas are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this amnesty to avoid significant fines and potential re-entry bans.”
Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had announced on April 11, that the federal government would enforce a daily fine of $15 for each day a foreigner overstays their visa, effective from May 1, 2025. The minister clarified that the enforcement of these penalties would commence after the amnesty window closes at the end of July.
Tunji-Ojo explained: “From the 1st of August, any foreigner who has not regularised their stay within the three-month amnesty period will be subject to penalties.
However, those who utilise this window to regularise their status will not be fined, as the objective is not punitive but corrective. But from August 1, overstaying attracts a $15 daily surcharge. For those who have overstayed by more than three months or even up to five years, frankly, we do not need violators in Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Ministry of Interior also outlined escalating penalties for longer overstays. Visitors who exceed their visa limit by six months or more will face a five-year re-entry ban, while overstays of one year or longer will incur a 10-year ban from returning to Nigeria.
Overstayed Foreigners to Face $15 Daily Fine, Permanent Ban
To ease compliance, the Nigerian government has launched an online portal enabling holders of expired visa-on-arrival permits, lapsed single-entry visas, or overdue expatriate residence cards to apply for stay permits, upload necessary documents, and obtain clearance — all without visiting an immigration office physically.
This digitised system eliminates the need for in-person visits, long queues, and unofficial fees, making the regularisation process more streamlined and accessible.
Additionally, the advisory referenced warnings from the previous Donald Trump administration, which had similarly cautioned that foreign nationals who overstay their visas in the US risk deportation and permanent bans on re-entry.
Both the Nigerian and United States governments are tightening immigration controls, emphasizing compliance, and deploying digital platforms to facilitate legal residency and travel statuses. Nigerians and US citizens alike are being urged to heed these directives to avoid severe financial and legal consequences.