US to Nigerians: Visa fraud, overstays may attract stricter scrutiny

US Visa

United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a fresh warning against visa fraud, saying such actions would attract stricter scrutiny for other applicants.

In an X post yesterday, the US said that it protects visa system with rigorous screening process and called on Nigerians to report fraudulent visa activities to the appropriate quarters.

“Those who seek to commit fraud bring increased scrutiny on all visa applicants. We protect the U.S. visa system with rigorous screening, and our officers take fraud very seriously.

“Nigerians continue to engage legally with the United States as temporary workers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors,” the post reads.

On February 9, the US issued the same warning on its X handle, noting that continuous overstays by Nigerian travellers in the country were a primary factor in the denial of future opportunities for other aspiring applicants.

The US noted that strengthening compliance helps protect visa access for students, business travellers, and families who travel responsibly.

The warning came against the backdrop of long-standing concerns by US consular authorities about visa fraud linked to a minority of applications from Nigeria.

These concerns have previously prompted policy actions, including reduced visa validity for many Nigerian travellers and more intensive background checks, as the US department of state seeks to protect the integrity of its immigration system. Vanguard