The United States Government has issued a stern warning to Nigerian travellers against overstaying their authorised period of stay, noting that such violations could result in deportation and a permanent travel ban from entering the country.

Naijaonpoint reports that the warning, posted on the official 𝕏 (formerly known as Twitter) of the US Mission in Nigeria, is part of an expanded crackdown on immigration violations under the administration of President Donald Trump.

The US Mission stated in the advisory, “If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States in the future.”

The development comes shortly after the US government unveiled new visa restrictions and financial surcharges targeting Nigerian citizens seeking to enter the country for business, education, or tourism.

Under the revised policy, non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerians have been limited to a three-month single entry, citing concerns about visa overstay, national security, and documentation irregularities.

Additionally, a $250 mandatory Visa Integrity Fee has been introduced for categories such as student visas (F and M), tourist/business visas (B-1/B-2), work visas (H-1B), and exchange visitor visas (J).

Only diplomatic applicants in categories A and G are exempted under the new rule.

The new visa policy also includes other non-waivable travel-related surcharges, such as the $24 I-94 fee and the $13 ESTA fee for travellers under the Visa Waiver Program.

According to the US government, the changes align with broader efforts to strengthen its visa reciprocity policy and address longstanding concerns about immigration fraud and security threats.

In another measure that further tightens the US visa application process, the US Embassy recently announced compulsory social media screening for applicants in certain categories.

All F, M, and J visa applicants are now required to make their social media accounts public, allowing US authorities to access and screen personal posts and activity as part of the vetting process.

This development follows earlier executive orders signed by President Donald Trump aimed at enhancing immigration enforcement and ensuring thorough background checks for all visa applicants.