Data from the US Travel and Tourism Office shows Nigeria recorded the largest global drop-off in visitors to the US. As of October 2019, 34,000 fewer Nigerians travelled to the US, a 21% drop compared to 2018.
Both the B1 and the B2 visas are temporary, non-immigrant visas. B1 visa is for business while the B2 visa is for pleasure. … A B2 visa is basically a tourist visa and allows the holder to travel to and within the US for a pretty broad range of tourist activities.
Trump’s tough stance on immigration has led to a panicky exodus of immigrants from the North American country to neighboring Canada.
However, between June 2017 and May 2018, Canadian authorities intercepted more than 7,600 Nigerian asylum seekers, with 81% of them having valid U.S. non-immigrant visas in their possession.
Lawlessness, Nigerians Overstay Their Welcome
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, approximately 30,000 Nigerians who traveled to the United States of America in 2018 overstayed their visas representing 15.18% of the total 195,785 expected departures.
A total of 19,676 Nigerians overstayed their visas in 2017, representing 10.61% and a total of 12,043 Nigerians representing 6.34% that travelled to the U.S. in 2016 overstayed their visas.
The statistics made the U.S. embassy in Nigeria suspend indefinitely the visa interview waiver for those renewing visas in the country.
Before the suspension, Nigerian holders of US visa types B1/B2, F, H, and L could renew their visas online by processing it through DHL using one of several drop box locations across the country without attending physical interviews.
Trump May Restrict U.S Visas to Nigerians
White House spokesman, Hogan Gidley said the Trump administration considers it a top priority to reduce overstay rates for visas.
“It’s well known that the administration is working to ensure faithful implementation of immigration welfare rules to protect American taxpayers”.
The wall street journal reported that United States President, Donald Trump is set to add Nigeria and six others to a new list of countries on America’s expanded visa restriction on Monday, marking the three-year anniversary of the initial travel ban.
The list which reportedly also has immigrants from Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Sudan and Tanzania is not final as other countries may be added.
According to the report, other countries are set to join Nigeria in the ban from participating in the diversity visa lottery program, which awards green cards to people in countries with low levels of immigration to the US.
Some school of thought opined that the number of people who became Illegal immigrants by overstaying their visas has been shown to outnumber people entering through illegal and weak border.
