Nigerians and other foreign travellers seeking the United States’ B1/B2 business and tourist visas may soon be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000, following a new travel directive issued by the US Department of State.
Naijaonpoint reports that the policy, which further tightens entry conditions for visitors, comes barely a week after the United States imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigeria and some other countries.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees demanded by the US government from certain applicants considered to be from “high-risk” countries.
The bond is meant to ensure compliance with visa conditions, including timely departure from the United States at the expiration of the authorised stay.
According to information published on the Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, payment of such fees without the express instruction of a consular officer does not guarantee visa approval and will not be refunded.
Nigeria, 23 Other African Countries Listed
Out of the 38 countries listed under the new requirement, 24 are African nations, including Nigeria, according to the updated list released by the Department on Tuesday, January 6.
The Department stated that nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with specific implementation dates assigned to each country.
Countries affected include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia and Nepal.
Others are Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In Nigeria’s case, the US government cited security concerns, including the activities of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country.
The Department said these factors have resulted in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties” for Nigerian visa applicants.
Nigeria’s implementation date has been fixed for January 21, 2026.
Overstay Concerns
The US also justified Nigeria’s inclusion by citing visa overstay rates. According to the Department, Nigeria recorded an overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M and J student and exchange visas.
As a result, the travel suspension covers both immigrant visas and several non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas.
Naijaonpoint reports that the directive states 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 will also be required to submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov.
The requirement applies irrespective 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 Department clarified that bonds would only be refunded if the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure on or before the expiration of authorised stay, if the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or if the traveller applies for admission at a US port of entry and is denied entry.
Nigeria was among 15 mostly African counthttps://www.naijanews.com/Visaries placed under partial travel suspensions by the US government on December 16, further underscoring the tightening of America’s immigration and travel policies toward the affected nations.