Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to the United States may soon be required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000.
The development follows new travel restrictions introduced by the United States government.
According to information published on the US Department of State website, Travel.State.Gov, payment of a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
The department also warned that any bond paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
An updated list released by the US State Department shows that 38 countries are affected by the policy, with 24 African nations, including Nigeria, on the list.
Visa bonds are financial guarantees required for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk who are applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes.
For Nigeria, the implementation date has been fixed for January 21, 2026.
Other countries affected include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cabo Verde, Burundi, Djibouti, Dominica, Cuba, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, among others, with implementation dates ranging between January 1 and January 21, 2026.
Nigerians planning to travel to the US for business or tourism may need to prepare for stricter financial requirements ahead of the 2026 implementation.