Nigerians Seeking US Visas Face New Bond Requirement

Nigerians who plan to visit the United States for business or tourism should check the latest visa instructions before they apply. The US Department of State lists Nigeria among the countries whose nationals fall under the US visa-bond programme. Nigeria’s implementation date is January 21, 2026.

A visa bond is a refundable deposit that a consular officer may require before a visa is issued. It's intended to support compliance with the terms of a temporary visit, including leaving the United States on time. It isn't the same as the regular visa application fee, and paying it doesn't mean a visa will be issued.

Under the State Department’s current guidance, a Nigerian citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by Nigeria who is otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visitor visa must post a bond. B1 visas cover temporary business travel; B2 visas generally cover tourism, visits and some medical trips. The bond requirement applies no matter where the applicant submits the visa application.

That bond amount gets set during the visa interview. It may be $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. Applicants shouldn't pay before receiving instructions from a consular officer. If the officer directs the applicant to post a bond, the applicant must complete the required Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform using the direct link provided in the official instructions.

The State Department warns applicants not to use websites that aren't named in those instructions. The government says it isn't responsible for money paid outside its systems. The applicant or another person, like a relative, friend or business associate, may pay the bond. That person named as the obligor on Form I-352 must be the same person who makes the payment. If the bond terms are met, the deposit is returned in US dollars to the obligor. So the obligor carries any exchange-rate changes.

The bond also comes with travel conditions. Visa holders who posted a bond have to enter and leave the United States through a designated commercial air port of entry, which includes an eligible Customs and Border Protection preclearance location. The State Department says bond holders may not use charter aircraft, general aviation, land or sea ports of entry.

The deposit can be cancelled and returned in cases like these: the visa expires without the holder travelling to the United States, or the traveller leaves on time through a commercial air port and follows the visa conditions. Other listed situations include leaving after an approved extension or change of status, and certain cases where Customs and Border Protection finds the traveller inadmissible and cancels the visa.

A bond may be forfeited if its terms are breached. The State Department gives examples: staying in the United States past the authorised period, failing to leave after a denied extension or change-of-status request, or substantially violating a condition on the bond form. So visitors need to keep their travel plans within the period authorised by US authorities.

That policy is drawing attention in Nigeria because it creates a possible upfront financial requirement for people who seek ordinary business or tourism travel. The amount is significant, and the final figure isn't known until the visa interview. At the same time, the bond is separate from the decision to issue a visa and isn't an approval in itself.

Applicants should rely on the US Department of State’s official visa-bond page and any direct instructions from the consular officer. Rules and procedures can change, so Nigerians should confirm the current requirements before they pay any fee or make travel arrangements.