The United States have introduced new travel restrictions that may require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 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 a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
Out of the 38 countries listed in the updated directive released on Tuesday, 24 are African nations, including Nigeria.
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.
Implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria’s set for January 21, 2026.
The Department of State said nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with the dates of enforcement indicated accordingly.
Countries affected include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti and Dominica.
Others are Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia and Nepal.
Also listed are Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The directive states that any eligible applicant travelling on a passport issued by any of the listed countries must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, with the exact amount determined during the visa interview.
Applicants are also required to submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms via the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform, regardless of where the 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.
Refunds will only be issued when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the US on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, if the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or if admission is denied at a US port of entry.
This development follows the partial travel restrictions placed on Nigeria and 14 other mostly African countries on December 16, 2025.
In Nigeria’s case, the US cited the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in some regions, leading to screening and vetting challenges.
The US also cited 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 Nigeria’s inclusion. As a result, the restrictions cover both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories.
