The United States government has announced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to post bonds of up to $15,000 starting from January 21, 2026.
According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance. The notice also explained that any fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
Of the countries listed, African nations make up 24 out of the 38 included in the new update released by the US State Department on Tuesday. Nigeria is one of the countries affected by the policy.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US State Department for certain foreign nationals applying for B1/B2 visas, which cover business and tourism purposes. These bonds apply to nationals from countries considered high-risk due to overstays or immigration violations.
The Department of State explained that the bond requirement would apply to applicants who are otherwise found eligible for the visa. “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 directive stated.
The amount of the bond will be determined during the visa interview process. The Department also noted that applicants must complete the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the terms of the bond using the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov.
“This requirement applies regardless of the place of application,” the notice emphasized.
The list of affected countries includes 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, Nepal, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Implementation dates differ among countries. For example, Nigeria’s date is set for January 21, 2026, while others such as The Gambia, Tanzania, and Mauritania will have earlier dates ranging from October 2025 to January 2026.
The Department further explained that visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through specific entry points. These include Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Refunds will only be processed under certain conditions. According to the State Department, bonds will be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records that the visa holder has left the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay. Refunds also apply when an 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 new bond requirement follows recent partial travel restrictions placed on Nigeria and other countries a week earlier. On December 16, the US government announced partial suspensions for 15 countries, mostly in Africa, including Angola, Antigua, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia.
In the case of Nigeria, the US cited security challenges linked to terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operating in some parts of the country. The US said these threats have created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s overstay rate as a contributing factor. The State Department recorded an overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories).
Because of this, the recent travel suspension affected both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories. These include B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The US government explained that these measures are part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with immigration laws and maintain effective screening processes. The Department of State reaffirmed that applicants from the affected countries can still apply for visas, but those found eligible must meet the new bond requirements before their visas can be issued.
