The United States government has announced a new visa restriction that will require some Nigerians applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000, equivalent to about N22 million at current exchange rates.
Details published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, state that payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval, adding that any fee paid without explicit instruction from a consular officer will not be refunded.
The measure is part of a directive released on Tuesday, listing 38 countries whose nationals may be subject to the visa bond requirement. Nigeria is among the affected countries, with implementation scheduled to begin on January 21, 2026.
Visa bonds are designed as financial guarantees for applicants from countries considered high-risk for visa overstays. Applicants who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas may be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, depending on a consular officer’s assessment during the visa interview.
According to the notice, applicants required to post bonds must complete the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352, agree to the stipulated terms and make payment through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. The requirement applies regardless of the country where the visa application is submitted.
Applicants who post visa bonds will also be required to 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.
The bonds may only be refunded if the visa holder departs the US before the authorised period expires, if the visa expires without being used, or if the traveller is denied entry at a US port of entry.
The development follows the recent announcement of partial travel restrictions on Nigeria, introduced on December 16, citing concerns over security vetting challenges and high visa overstay rates. US data shows Nigeria recorded an overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for student and exchange visas.
