The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued an important reminder to travellers regarding a common misunderstanding about U.S. visa regulations.
In an advisory shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the embassy clarified that the length of stay permitted for a visitor in the U.S. is not determined by the expiration date on the visa, but rather by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry.
“Reminder! The length of time an international visitor is allowed to stay in the United States is determined by the CBP officer upon your arrival, NOT your visa expiration date,” the embassy posted.
“To see how long you can stay, check your I-94 (admit until date) at i94.cbp.dhs.gov.”
The embassy emphasized that a visa only grants permission to approach a U.S. port of entry and request admission — it does not guarantee entry or determine how long one may remain in the country.
Travellers are urged to review their I-94 form, which contains the “Admit Until Date” set by the CBP officer. This date is the official deadline by which the visitor must depart the U.S.
In response to the frequent 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 to 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.”
