The United States (US) government has announced that visa applicants (business and tourism) from Nigeria and 38 other countries will be required to post financial bonds of up to $15,000 (£11,800).
The bond serves as a financial guarantee that the visitor will comply with the terms of their stay.
The records indicate that B1/B2 visa overstay rate was 5.56 percent for Nigerians, while student and exchange categories (F, M, and J visas) saw overstay rates as high as 11.90 percent.
Read also: Visa ban halts Nigerian students’ American dream
Here is the full list of countries that will now pay US visa bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, and their effective dates:
Affected countries includes regional neighbours such as Benin, Ghana, and Togo, alongside nations such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Venezuela. Of the 38 nations identified in the latest directive, 24 are African
Algeria (January 21, 2026)
Angola (January 21, 2026)
Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026)
Bangladesh (January 21, 2026)
Benin (January 21, 2026)
Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
Botswana (January 1, 2026)
Burundi (January 21, 2026)
Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026)
Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
Cote D’Ivorie (January 21, 2026)
Cuba (January 21, 2026)
Djibouti (January 21, 2026)
Dominica (January 21, 2026)
Fiji (January 21, 2026)
Gabon (January 21, 2026)
The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
Guinea (January 1, 2026)
Guinea Bissau (January 1, 2026)
Kyrgyzstan (January 21, 2026)
Malawi (August 20, 2025)
Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
Namibia (January 1, 2026)
Nepal (January 21, 2026
Nigeria (January 21, 2026)
Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
Senegal (January 21, 2026)
Tajikistan (January 21, 2026)
Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
Togo (January 21, 2026)
Tonga (January 21, 2026)
Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
Tuvalu (January 21, 2026)
Uganda (January 21, 2026)
Vanuatu (January 21, 2026)
Venezuela (January 21, 2026)
Zambia (August 20, 2025)
Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026)
The payment of bond does not guarantee a US visa.
The measure targets countries classified as “high-risk” regarding visa overstays.
Under the new rules, consular officers may require applicants to provide a bond in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The specific sum will be determined during the mandatory visa interview.
Read also: US imposes visa bonds of up to $15,000 on Nigerians as new B1/B2 travel restrictions take effect
Key procedural requirements include:
Form I-352: Applicants must submit this to the Department of Homeland Security form.
Digital payment: Agreements and payments must be processed via the US Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov.
Designated entry: Travellers subject to these bonds must enter the US through specific hubs, including Boston Logan, New York’s JFK, or Washington Dulles.
The State Department clarified that posting a bond does not guarantee a visa will be granted. Further, any fees paid without the explicit instruction of a consular official are non-refundable.
Criteria for refund
The bond serves as a financial guarantee that the visitor will comply with the terms of their stay Funds will only be returned if:
The Department of Homeland Security confirms the traveller departed the US on or before their authorised stay expired.
The visa expires before the individual has travelled.
The traveller is denied entry by Customs and Border Protection at a US port of entry.
Context of security and overstays
This latest move follows partial travel restrictions imposed on Nigeria in late December.
US authorities previously cited “substantial screening and vetting difficulties” linked to the activity of radical groups, including Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, in certain regions. Statistical data also played a role in the decision.
