By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The United States has announced a new visa bond policy that may require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 business and tourism visas to pay refundable bonds of up to $15,000, effective January 21, 2026.
The U.S. Department of State said the bond is intended to ensure compliance with visa conditions, stressing that payment does not guarantee visa approval. Nigeria is among 38 countries affected, mostly in Africa.
Under the policy, eligible applicants may be asked during interviews to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. Payments will be processed through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform using Form I-352.
Visa holders who post bonds will be limited to entering the U.S. through designated airports, including JFK in New York, Boston Logan, and Washington Dulles.
Refunds will be made only if travellers leave the U.S. within the authorised stay or if the visa is unused or entry is denied. Failure to comply may lead to forfeiture of the bond.
The move comes amid tighter U.S. visa restrictions on Nigerians, linked to security concerns and visa overstay records.
