NEWS
U.S Imposes Visa Bond Requirement of Up to $15,000 on Nigerians, 23 Other African Countries, Sets January 21, 2026 Implementation Date
The United States has introduced a new layer of travel restrictions that could significantly affect Nigerians seeking short-term entry into the country, as applicants for B1/B2 business and tourist visas may now be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000.
According to information published on the official website of the U.S Department of State, Travel.State.Gov, the payment of a visa bond does not guarantee visa approval. The department further clarified that any fees paid without the explicit direction of a consular officer will not be refunded, underscoring the discretionary nature of the process.
The updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday shows that African countries dominate the affected nations, accounting for 24 of the 38 countries listed, including Nigeria. The new requirement forms part of a broader visa compliance strategy targeting countries classified as high-risk under US immigration policies.
Visa bonds serve as financial guarantees imposed on certain foreign nationals applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism. The bonds are intended to ensure compliance with US immigration laws, particularly adherence to authorised periods of stay.
Implementation dates vary across countries, with Nigeria scheduled for enforcement on January 21, 2026. The Department of State noted that nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with specific implementation dates indicated for each country.
Countries affected include Algeria (21 January 2026), Angola (21 January 2026), Antigua and Barbuda (21 January 2026), Bangladesh (21 January 2026), Benin (21 January 2026), Bhutan (1 January 2026), Botswana (1 January 2026), Burundi (21 January 2026), Cabo Verde (21 January 2026), Central African Republic (1 January 2026), Côte d’Ivoire (21 January 2026), Cuba (21 January 2026), Djibouti (21 January 2026), and Dominica (21 January 2026).
Others on the list are Nigeria (21 January 2026), São Tomé and Príncipe (23 October 2025), Senegal (21 January 2026), Tajikistan (21 January 2026), Tanzania (23 October 2025), Togo (21 January 2026), Tonga (21 January 2026), Turkmenistan (1 January 2026), Tuvalu (21 January 2026), Uganda (21 January 2026), Vanuatu (21 January 2026), Venezuela (21 January 2026), Zambia (20 August 2025), and Zimbabwe (21 January 2026).
The directive states that, “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. Applicants must also agree to the terms of the bond through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of the place of application.”
The Department added that visa holders who post bonds will be required to enter the United States through designated ports of entry, including Boston Logan International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in Virginia.
Refunds of the visa bonds will only be processed under specific conditions. These include when the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the visa holder departed the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or when a traveller applies for entry but is denied admission at a US port of entry.
This latest development comes barely a week after the United States imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigeria. On December 16, Nigeria was listed among 15 mostly African countries placed under partial travel suspensions, alongside Angola, Antigua, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, and others.
In Nigeria’s case, US authorities cited the presence and activities of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain regions of the country, which were said to pose “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
Additionally, Nigeria’s visa overstay rates were highlighted as a concern, with figures put at 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M, and J visas. Consequently, the travel suspension extended beyond immigrant visas to cover several non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The new visa bond policy is expected to further tighten access to short-term travel to the United States for affected countries, raising concerns among prospective travellers, businesses, and tourism stakeholders.