US introduces $15,000 visa bond requirement for Nigerians, other nationals
The United States has introduced new travel measures that could require Nigerian applicants for B1/B2 business and tourist visas to post visa bonds of up to $15,000.
According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, payment of a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and any fee paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
The updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday shows that 38 countries are affected by the policy, with African nations accounting for 24 of them, including Nigeria.
Visa bonds serve as financial guarantees required by the US government for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk, who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas. The bonds are intended to ensure compliance with visa conditions, particularly timely departure from the United States.
Implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria scheduled to begin enforcement on January 21, 2026.
Other countries affected include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
Under the directive, eligible applicants from the listed countries must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, with the amount 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 online payment platform, Pay.gov. The requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
Visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through designated airports, including Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Refunds will only be issued after the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the visa holder departed the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, if the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or if admission is denied at a US port of entry.
The new requirement follows the introduction of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria and several other countries announced on December 16, 2025. In Nigeria’s case, the US government cited security concerns linked to the activities of extremist groups, as well as high visa overstay rates, as reasons for the restrictions. The measures affected both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, including B, F, M and J visas.
