January 9, 2026 — In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s diaspora community and travel industry, the United States will begin requiring Nigerian citizens to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for tourist and business visas, effective January 21, 2026.
The new requirement, announced by the US Department of State, applies to all Nigerians seeking B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes and represents one of the most significant barriers to US travel imposed on Nigerian citizens in recent memory.
Under the new policy, any Nigerian citizen who is otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a refundable bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The specific amount will be determined by consular officers during individual visa interviews, based on factors that have not been publicly detailed.
At current exchange rates, the maximum $15,000 bond translates to approximately 24 million Naira, a sum that places US travel firmly out of reach for the vast majority of Nigerians. Even the minimum $5,000 bond represents roughly 8 million Naira, equivalent to several years’ salary for many Nigerian workers.
The process is administratively complex as well. Applicants must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to bond terms through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. Critically, the bond does not guarantee visa approval, and fees paid without a consular officer’s explicit direction will not be refunded.
How the Bond Works
It’s important to understand that this is not a visa application fee but rather a security deposit. The bond is refundable under three specific circumstances: when the Department of Homeland Security confirms the visa holder departed the United States within their authorized period of stay, when the applicant does not travel to the US before their visa expires, or when they are denied admission at a US port of entry.
This means compliant travelers who visit the US and return home as scheduled will eventually recover their funds. However, the requirement still presents a massive upfront financial barrier and ties up substantial capital for extended periods.
Why Nigeria? The Official Justification
The US government cited two primary concerns in implementing this policy. First, visa overstay rates: Nigerian B1/B2 visa holders have a 5.56% overstay rate, while student and exchange visitor visas show an 11.90% overstay rate. While these figures indicate real compliance challenges, critics note they affect only a small minority of Nigerian travelers.
Second, the State Department pointed to security concerns related to terrorist groups operating in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast, which they claim create difficulties in screening and vetting visa applicants. This reasoning has drawn sharp criticism from Nigerian officials and diaspora communities who argue it unfairly stigmatizes an entire nation based on localized security challenges.