NIGERIANS FACE NEW US TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING VISA BONDS OF $15,000
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The United States has announced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerian applicants for B1/B2 visas (business and tourism) to post bonds of up to $15,000.
Visa bonds serve as financial guarantees for nationals from countries deemed high-risk. In the updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday, 24 African countries—including Nigeria—were affected. The measure takes effect for Nigerian applicants on January 21, 2026.
According to the State Department, “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, determined at the time of the visa interview.” Applicants must also submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to bond terms via the Department of the Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. The bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and fees paid without consular direction are non-refundable.
Nigerian visa holders required to post bonds must enter the US through designated airports, including Boston Logan, New York’s JFK, and Washington Dulles. Bonds are refundable only when the Department of Homeland Security confirms timely departure, non-travel before visa expiration, or denial of admission at a US port of entry.
The move follows partial US travel restrictions imposed on Nigeria and 14 other mostly African countries on December 16, 2025, citing security concerns linked to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates, as well as high overstay rates on various visa categories.
For Nigeria, overstay rates were 5.56 percent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 percent for F, M, and J visas, prompting inclusion in the partial suspension, which affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The previous restrictions took effect on January 1, 2026.
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