The United States government has announced new visa rules that could make travel more difficult and expensive for Nigerians seeking to visit the country for tourism or business. Under the new policy, Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas may be required to pay a visa bond of up to $15,000 before they are allowed to travel.
The information was published on the official website of the US Department of State, Travel.State.Gov. According to the website, the visa bond is a financial guarantee and does not mean that a visa will automatically be approved. It also stated clearly that any bond payment made without direct instruction from a US consular officer will not be refunded.
Nigeria is one of 38 countries affected by this new policy. Out of these 38 countries, 24 are from Africa. The updated list was released by the US State Department on Tuesday, drawing strong attention across the continent, especially in Nigeria.
A visa bond is a form of financial guarantee demanded by the US government from citizens of certain countries it considers high-risk. The bond applies to people applying for B1/B2 visas, which are non-immigrant visas meant for short visits such as tourism, family visits, medical treatment, conferences, or business meetings.
The bond is meant to ensure that visa holders obey US immigration rules, especially the requirement to leave the country before their authorised stay expires. If the traveller follows the rules and leaves on time, the bond may be refunded. If not, the bond may be forfeited.
Under the new directive, affected applicants may be asked to pay $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The exact amount will be decided during the visa interview by a consular officer.
For Nigeria, the visa bond requirement will take effect from January 21, 2026. This means that Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas from that date may be required to pay the bond if they are found eligible for the visa but classified as needing extra guarantees.
Other countries have different implementation dates. Some, like São Tomé and Príncipe and Tanzania, will begin earlier in October 2025, while others such as Bhutan, Botswana, and Turkmenistan will start on January 1, 2026.
Countries affected by the policy include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and several others across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.
According to the US State Department, any applicant required to pay a visa bond must also submit Form I-352, which is issued by the US Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must then agree to the bond conditions and make payment through the US Treasury’s official online platform, Pay.gov.
The requirement applies regardless of where the applicant applies for the visa, whether in Nigeria or another country. This means Nigerians living abroad will not be exempt.
Visa holders who post bonds will also be required to enter the United States through selected airports. These include major entry points such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Boston Logan International Airport. The policy did not clearly list all designated airports, but it noted that entry points would be restricted.
The bond will only be refunded under specific conditions. These include when the US Department of Homeland Security confirms that the traveller left the US on or before the expiry of their authorised stay.
Refunds may also apply if the visa holder does not travel at all before the visa expires, or if the person travels but is denied entry at a US port of entry and sent back immediately.
If a traveller overstays or violates the visa terms, the bond may not be returned.
This new visa bond policy comes just one week after the United States announced partial travel restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other countries. On December 16, the US government placed Nigeria under a partial travel suspension, alongside countries such as Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia.
In explaining its decision, the US government cited security concerns, especially the activities of extremist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of Nigeria. According to US authorities, the presence of these groups creates serious challenges for effective screening and vetting of visa applicants.
Another major reason given for Nigeria’s inclusion in the restrictions is visa overstay rates. The US government said Nigeria recorded an overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas. For student and exchange visas, known as F, M, and J visas, the overstay rate was reported as 11.90 per cent.
These figures were considered high by US standards and were used to justify tighter visa controls.
As a result of the partial suspension, several visa categories were affected. These include immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas such as B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
For many Nigerians, the new visa bond requirement could place US travel further out of reach. A bond of up to $15,000 is a very large sum, especially when converted to naira at current exchange rates.
While the US government insists the bond is refundable if rules are followed, critics argue that the financial burden alone could discourage many genuine travellers.
As January 2026 approaches, Nigerians planning to visit the US are advised to monitor official updates closely and seek proper guidance before making any payments or travel plans.