The United States has announced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism 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 the visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance. The Department also warned that any fees paid without the explicit direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
Nigeria is among 38 countries listed in the new directive, with African nations accounting for 24 of those affected. The updated list was released by the US State Department on Tuesday.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US government for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk. They apply to applicants who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas and are intended to ensure compliance with US immigration rules.
Implementation dates vary by country. For Nigeria, the policy will take effect on 21 January 2026. The State Department said nationals of the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with specific implementation dates indicated for each country.
Countries affected include Algeria (21 January 2026), Angola (21 January 2026), Antigua and Barbuda (21 January 2026), Bangladesh (21 January 2026), Benin (21 January 2026), Bhutan (1 January 2026), Botswana (1 January 2026), Burundi (21 January 2026), Cabo Verde (21 January 2026), Central African Republic (1 January 2026), Côte d’Ivoire (21 January 2026), Cuba (21 January 2026), Djibouti (21 January 2026) and Dominica (21 January 2026).
Others are Fiji (21 January 2026), Gabon (21 January 2026), The Gambia (11 October 2025), Guinea (1 January 2026), Guinea-Bissau (1 January 2026), Kyrgyzstan (21 January 2026), Malawi (20 August 2025), Mauritania (23 October 2025), Namibia (1 January 2026) and Nepal (21 January 2026).
The remaining countries on the list are Nigeria (21 January 2026), São Tomé and Príncipe (23 October 2025), Senegal (21 January 2026), Tajikistan (21 January 2026), Tanzania (23 October 2025), Togo (21 January 2026), Tonga (21 January 2026), Turkmenistan (1 January 2026), Tuvalu (21 January 2026), Uganda (21 January 2026), Vanuatu (21 January 2026), Venezuela (21 January 2026), Zambia (20 August 2025) and Zimbabwe (21 January 2026).
Under the directive, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of the listed countries, who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The exact amount will be determined during the visa interview.
Applicants are also required to submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the terms of the bond through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. The State Department noted that this requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
In addition, 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 of State said visa bonds will only be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or when a traveller applies for and is denied admission at a US port of entry.
The development comes barely a week after the US government introduced partial travel restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other mostly African countries on 16 December. In Nigeria’s case, US authorities cited the presence and activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, which they said created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
The US also referenced visa 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 partial travel suspension covered both immigrant visas and several non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas.
