Nigerians and other foreign nationals applying for the United States’ B1/B2 visas may now be required to post bonds of up to $15,000, according to a new directive from the US State Department.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees demanded from applicants considered high-risk. They apply to traveler’s seeking entry for business or tourism purposes.
The measure further tightens entry conditions for Nigerians, coming just a week after Washington introduced partial travel restrictions on the country.
Information published on the State Department’s official website, states that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded and do not guarantee automatic visa issuance.
Out of 38 countries listed, 24 are African nations, including Nigeria. Implementation dates vary, with Nigeria’s requirement set to begin on January 21, 2026.
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, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s Case
For Nigeria, the US cited the presence and operations of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State, which it said created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
The State Department also pointed to Nigeria’s visa overstay rates: 5.56% for B1/B2 visas and 11.90% for F, M, and J visas. These figures were used to justify Nigeria’s inclusion in the bond programme.
The restrictions cover both immigrant and non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The directive states: “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 must also submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.
Visa holders who post bonds must enter the US 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 when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or when a traveller is denied admission at a US port of entry.
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