Nigerians seeking short-term travel visas to the United States may soon face significantly higher financial requirements following a new policy introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Under the updated rules, applicants for B1/B2 visas—which cover business and tourism travel—could be required to pay a visa bond of up to $15,000 before being allowed entry into the United States.
Details of the policy were published on the US Department of State’s official travel portal, Travel.State.Gov, which clarified that the payment of a visa bond does not automatically guarantee visa approval.
The department also warned that any bond paid without the direct instruction of a US consular officer would not be refunded.
An updated list released by the State Department shows that 38 countries are affected by the new measure, including 24 African nations, with Nigeria among those listed.
The bond requirement for Nigerian applicants is scheduled to take effect on January 21, 2026.
What Is a Visa Bond?
A visa bond is a financial guarantee required by the US government from visa applicants it considers to pose a higher risk of overstaying or violating visa terms.
The bond is typically refundable and is returned once the traveller exits the United States within the permitted stay period and complies with visa conditions.
Visa bonds are not new. They were first introduced into US immigration policy decades ago as a deterrent against visa overstays, particularly during periods of heightened immigration enforcement. The bond system allows the US government to impose stricter controls without imposing outright travel bans.
If a visitor violates the terms of their visa—such as overstaying—the bond may be forfeited to the US government.
Countries Affected
According to the State Department, nationals from the affected countries have been designated for the bond requirement based on immigration compliance data. Apart from Nigeria, other countries on the list include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Burundi, Djibouti, Botswana, Bangladesh, Cuba, Bhutan, the Central African Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, and several others.
Implementation dates
Implementation dates vary by country, ranging from January 1 to January 21, 2026.
The new policy is part of broader US efforts to tighten immigration controls and reduce visa overstays, particularly under non-immigrant travel categories.
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