The United States has introduced new travel restrictions that may require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas to post bonds of up to $15,000.
According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance. The department also warned that any fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
African countries make up 24 of the 38 nations listed in the updated policy released by the US State Department on Tuesday, including Nigeria.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees imposed on certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk. They apply to applicants who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas and are intended to ensure compliance with US immigration rules.
Implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria’s bond requirement scheduled to take effect on January 21, 2026. The State Department said nationals of the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with effective dates indicated for each country.
Countries affected include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti and Dominica. Others are 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, with implementation dates ranging from August 2025 to January 2026.
Under the directive, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of the listed countries who qualifies for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The bond amount will be determined during the visa interview.
Applicants will also be required to submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. 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.
The bond will only be refunded if the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, if the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or if the traveller is denied admission at a US port of entry.
The development follows the introduction of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria a week earlier. On December 16, the US government placed Nigeria among 15 mostly African countries under partial travel suspensions.
In Nigeria’s case, US authorities cited the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, leading to what they described as “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.” The US also referenced overstay rates of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M and J visas as justification for the measures.
As a result, the restrictions apply to immigrant visas as well as several non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas.
