United States (US) government has announced a new travel requirement for Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas, covering business and tourism travel, mandating the posting of visa bonds of up to $15,000.
According to the directive, the policy will take effect in Nigeria on January 21, 2026.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US Department of State from applicants of countries classified as “high-risk.” In the latest update, Africa accounts for 24 of the 38 countries affected by the measure, with Nigeria included, as stated in a notice released by the State Department on Tuesday.
“Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the notice states. “The applicant must also submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms via the Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. A bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and fees paid without consular direction are non-refundable.”
Under the new arrangement, visa holders who post bonds will be required to 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.
The notice further explains that bond refunds will only be processed when the Department of Homeland Security confirms the applicant’s departure from the United States, if the visa expires without being used, or if entry is denied at the port of arrival.
The latest restriction comes on the heels of a partial US travel limitation on Nigeria, which took effect on December 16, 2025, alongside similar measures affecting 14 other countries, mostly in Africa.
US authorities cited security concerns, including the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS in parts of Nigeria, as well as high visa overstay rates among Nigerian travelers, as reasons for the policy.
The partial suspension affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M, and J categories, and became effective from January 1, 2026.
