The United States government has introduced a new travel restriction that requires nationals from certain countries, including Nigeria, to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for B1/B2 visas. This development is part of the US State Department’s efforts to tighten entry conditions for travelers from high-risk countries. The bonds, which are financial guarantees, will be required for visa applicants from 38 countries, with 24 of them being African nations.
The US Department of State has published the list of affected countries on its website, Travel.State.Gov, which includes Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, and others. The implementation dates for the visa bonds vary by country, with Nigeria’s date set for January 21, 2026. The bonds are intended to ensure that visa holders comply with the terms of their visas and depart the United States on or before the expiration of their authorized stay.
According to the US Department of State, the decision to require visa bonds is based on the presence of radical Islamic terrorist groups in certain parts of Nigeria, which has resulted in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.” The country’s overstay rate of 5.56% for B1/B2 visas and 11.90% for F, M, and J visas was also cited as a justification for the new restriction.
To post a bond, applicants must submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the terms of the bond through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. The amount of the bond, which can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, will be determined during the visa interview. Visa holders who post bonds must 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 in Virginia.
The bonds will be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the expiration of their authorized stay, or when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires. This new restriction is in addition to the partial travel suspension imposed on Nigeria and 14 other countries by the US government on December 16. The suspension affects immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
