Nigeria is among 50 countries whose citizens could be asked to pay a refundable visa bond of up to $20,000 before receiving certain United States visas.
The policy, now made permanent by the US government, mainly covers applicants for B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
Under the programme, a US consular officer can require eligible applicants to pay the bond before a visa is issued. However, the condition will not apply to every applicant from the affected countries.
The US Department of State said the visa bond scheme began as a pilot programme in 2025 to improve compliance with immigration laws and reduce visa overstays.
According to the US government, results from the pilot showed the programme helped ensure visitors obeyed visa rules and left the country before their authorised stay ended.
Travellers who follow the visa conditions and leave the US within the approved period will get a full refund. Those who overstay, break immigration rules or fail to meet programme requirements could lose the money.
Applicants selected for the scheme must complete Form I-352 from the Department of Homeland Security. The bond can be paid by the applicant or by a third party, including relatives, friends or business associates.
Officials warned applicants not to make any payment unless a US consular officer specifically instructs them to do so, adding that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval.
The affected countries include Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Georgia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
The policy, backed by the US Immigration and Nationality Act, applies to eligible applicants no matter where they submit their visa application. Travellers covered by the programme must also enter and leave the US through approved commercial airports or designated preclearance locations.
