The United States government has introduced new travel restrictions that will require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas to post visa bonds of up to $15,000, equivalent to about ₦22m.
The information published on the US Department of State website, Travel.State.Gov, noted that the policy applies to nationals of countries classified as high-risk and will take effect for Nigeria on January 21, 2026.
The directive, released by the US State Department on Tuesday, listed 38 affected countries, with African nations accounting for 24 of them, including Nigeria.
Under the new rule, Nigerian applicants who are otherwise found eligible for B1/B2 visas will be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the exact amount to be determined during the visa interview.
“The Department of State has identified certain countries whose nationals applying for B-1/B-2 visas are required to post visa bonds, with implementation dates shown in parentheses,” the directive stated.
It also clarified that payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance and that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
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The affected countries include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, among others, with implementation dates ranging between August 2025 and January 2026.
Applicants required to post bonds must submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and make payment through the US Department of the Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov.
The requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
The directive further stated that 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.
Refunds of the bonds will only be made if the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the visa holder departed the US 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 comes barely a week after the US imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other mostly African countries.
On December 16, Nigeria was placed under partial travel suspension, with the US citing the presence of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, which it said posed “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
The US government also cited Nigeria’s visa overstay rates, 5.56 percent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 percent for F, M, and J visas, as part of the justification for the restrictions.
