US to demand up to $15,000 visa bond from Nigerians, others

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The United States Department of State has announced a new visa bond requirement affecting citizens of Nigeria and 40 other countries, under a pilot programme aimed at reducing visa overstays.

According to the Department of State’s website, nationals from the affected countries who are otherwise eligible for a U.S. B1/B2 (business and tourism) visa will now be required to post a visa bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the assessment of a consular officer.

For Nigeria, the visa bond requirement will take effect on January 21, 2026, and applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.

The policy is anchored in Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and formalised through a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) establishing the visa bond pilot programme. The move follows data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report, which tracks B1/B2 visa overstay rates by country.

Countries Affected
In addition to Nigeria, other African countries on the list include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Non-African countries affected include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

Implementation dates vary, with some countries already subject to the requirement since August and October 2025, while others commence between January 1 and January 21, 2026.

How the Visa Bond Works
Applicants directed by a U.S. consular officer must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and pay the bond through the U.S. Treasury’s official Pay.gov platform. The State Department warned applicants not to use third-party websites, stressing that payments made outside official government systems will not be refunded.

Officials emphasised that paying a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and applicants who pay without a consular officer’s instruction risk losing their money.

Designated Ports of Entry
As a condition of the bond, affected visa holders must enter and exit the United States through specific ports of entry:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Failure to comply may result in denied entry or improperly recorded departure, which could trigger a bond breach.

Refunds and Compliance
The bond will be automatically refunded if:
The visa holder departs the U.S. on or before the authorised stay expires;
The visa holder does not travel before the visa expires; or
The visa holder is denied entry at a U.S. port.
However, the bond may be forfeited if the visa holder overstays, fails to depart, or seeks to adjust status, including applying for asylum.
The Department of Homeland Security will refer suspected violations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for breach determination.
The State Department described the measure as a targeted, data-driven approach to improving compliance with U.S. immigration rules, noting that the programme remains a pilot subject to review.