US Travel Visa: Nigerians to Post $15,000 Bond

The United States has introduced new travel restrictions that would require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to post bonds of up to $15,000.

Blueprint.ng reports that visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US State Department for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk, who are applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes.

Information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov indicated that the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, adding that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.

African countries account for 24 of the 38, including Nigeria, in the updated list released by the US State Department, Tuesday.

The implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria’s date set for January 21, 2026.

The US Department said nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with implementation dates indicated as follows: Algeria (January 21, 2026); Angola (January 21, 2026), Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026); Bangladesh (January 21, 2026); Benin (January 21, 2026); Bhutan (January 1, 2026); Botswana (January 1, 2026); Burundi (January 21, 2026); Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026), Central African Republic (January 1, 2026); Côte d’Ivoire (January 21, 2026); Cuba (January 21, 2026); Djibouti (January 21, 2026); Dominica (January 21, 2026).

Others are: Fiji (January 21, 2026); Gabon (January 21, 2026); The Gambia (October 11, 2025); Guinea (January 1, 2026); Guinea-Bissau (January 1, 2026); Kyrgyzstan (January 21, 2026); Malawi (August 20, 2025); Mauritania (October 23, 2025); Namibia (January 1, 2026); and Nepal (January 21, 2026).

Other affected countries are: Nigeria (January 21 2026); São Tomé and Príncipe (October 23, 2025); Senegal (January 21, 2026); Tajikistan (January 21, 2026); Tanzania (October 23, 2025); Togo (January 21, 2026); Tonga (January 21, 2026); Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026); Tuvalu (January 21, 2026); Uganda (January 21, 2026); Vanuatu (January 21, 2026); Venezuela (January 21, 2026); Zambia (August 20, 2025); as well as Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026).

The directive stated 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.”

This is as 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.

Bonds will only be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from 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 and is denied admission at a US port of entry.

The US had earlier imposed a partial travel ban on Nigeria and 14 other country mostly from the African continent, citing the presence and operations of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of Nigeria resulting in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”

An overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M, and J visas was also cited as justification for Nigeria’s inclusion.