Abuja – January 7, 2026: The United States government has introduced new travel restrictions that may require Nigerian applicants for B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas to post visa bonds of up to $15,000, according to an updated notice released by the US Department of State.
Under the new policy, citizens of designated high-risk countries—including Nigeria—who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas may be required to post a financial bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, as determined during the visa interview process. African countries account for 24 of the 38 nations affected by the policy.
The new requirement for Nigerian applicants is scheduled to take effect on January 21, 2026.
According to the State Department, applicants subject to the bond must also submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond conditions through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. The department emphasized that payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, noting that fees paid without a consular officer’s directive will not be refunded.
Visa holders required to 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 bond will only be refunded if the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the visa holder departed the United States on or before the authorised stay period, did not travel before the visa expired, or applied for admission at a US port of entry and was denied.
The development follows the implementation of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria, which took effect on January 1, 2026. Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries placed on partial travel suspensions on December 16, 2025.
The US government cited security concerns, including the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State, as well as visa overstay rates of 5.56% for B1/B2 visas and 11.90% for F, M, and J visas, as reasons for the restrictions.
The suspension affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J categories.
