The United States has introduced a new visa bond policy that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to pay up to $15,000 as a financial guarantee.
Information published on the US Department of State website, Travel.State.Gov, shows that Nigeria is among 38 countries affected by the directive, with implementation set to begin on January 21, 2026.
The policy applies to B1/B2 visas issued for business and tourism purposes and does not guarantee that a visa will be approved.
The US State Department noted that any payment made without the instruction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
According to the directive, “Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined during the visa interview.”
Applicants are also required to submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. The requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
African countries make up 24 of the 38 nations listed in the updated release by the US State Department on Tuesday. Nigeria joins countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and others on the list.
The US government explained that visa bonds are financial guarantees imposed on nationals from countries classified as high-risk, mainly to ensure compliance with visa conditions.
The department also stated that visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through designated airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Boston Logan International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Bonds will only be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the visa holder exited the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the visa expires without travel, or when entry into the US is denied at a port of entry.
This development comes barely a week after the United States placed Nigeria under partial travel restrictions.
Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries placed under partial suspension on December 16, following concerns raised by the US government over security challenges and visa overstay rates.
In Nigeria’s case, the US cited the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, which it said created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
An overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M and J visas was also cited as part of the justification for the decision.
As a result, the partial suspension affects both immigrant visas and several non-immigrant visa categories, including B-1, B-2, F, M and J visas.
