US to Require Up to $15,000 Visa Bonds for Nigerian Visitors from January 21

The United States has rolled out new travel measures that may compel Nigerians applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas to pay refundable visa bonds of as much as $15,000.

Details released by the U.S. Department of State explain that the bond serves as a financial assurance that visitors will adhere to the conditions of their visas. However, the payment does not guarantee visa approval, and any bond paid without the direct instruction of a U.S. consular officer will not be refunded.

Nigeria is listed among 38 affected countries—most of them in Africa—with the policy scheduled to apply to Nigerian applicants from January 21, 2026.

Under the directive, applicants who otherwise qualify for a B1/B2 visa may be asked during their interview to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the consular officer’s assessment.

Those required to pay the bond must complete the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and accept the bond conditions via the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. The requirement applies irrespective of where the visa application is lodged.

Visa holders who post a bond will also be required to enter the United States through designated ports of entry, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Boston Logan International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Refunds will only be issued if the traveller leaves the U.S. on or before the authorised stay expires, does not travel before the visa’s validity ends, or is refused entry at a U.S. port of entry. Failure to meet these conditions may result in the bond being forfeited.

The visa bond policy follows other recent U.S. travel restrictions on Nigerians, including a partial suspension of visa issuance that took effect in early January 2026. U.S. officials have pointed to security considerations—such as screening and vetting challenges in parts of Nigeria—and visa overstay statistics as reasons for adding Nigeria and other countries to an expanded list subject to tighter visa controls.

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