Nigerians seeking to travel to the United States on business or tourist visas may now be required to post visa bonds of as much as $15,000, following the introduction of new travel restrictions by the US government.
The policy, announced by the US State Department on Tuesday, targets nationals of 38 countries classified as high risk, with African countries making up 24 of those listed. Nigeria is among the affected nations, and the bond requirement for Nigerian applicants will take effect on January 21.
Under the new rules, Nigerians who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas will be required to provide a financial bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, depending on the outcome of their visa interview.
The State Department explained that applicants must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and complete payment through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform. It stressed that payment of a bond does not guarantee visa approval and warned that fees paid without a consular officer’s instruction would not be refunded.
Applicants who post the bond will also face entry restrictions, as they must arrive in 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 visa bond will only be refunded if the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the traveller departed the US on or before the authorised date of stay, if the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or if the traveller is refused entry at a US port of entry.
The move comes shortly after the US imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other countries, most of them in Africa. Countries affected include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon and The Gambia.
US authorities said Nigeria was included due to security concerns, citing the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, which they said complicate screening and vetting processes. The US also referenced overstay rates of 5.56 percent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 percent for F, M and J visas.
The partial travel suspension, which took effect on January 1, affects both immigrant visas and several non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas, further tightening travel access for Nigerian citizens.
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