The United States has introduced new visa restrictions that may require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas to post a bond of up to $15,000, as Washington expands measures aimed at curbing visa overstays.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the policy applies to nationals of 38 countries, 24 of which are in Africa, including Nigeria. The bond requirement, which takes effect on different dates depending on the country, applies to applicants who are otherwise found eligible for B1/B2 visas but are assessed as requiring additional assurances.
For Nigeria, the visa bond requirement will take effect on January 21, 2026. The State Department stressed that the bond does not guarantee visa issuance and that payments made without the instruction of a consular officer will not be refunded.
Here is the full list of countries affected by the U.S. visa bond requirement and their respective implementation dates.
Countries affected from January 21, 2026
1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Bangladesh
5. Benin
6. Burundi
7. Cabo Verde
8. Côte d’Ivoire
9. Cuba
10. Djibouti
11. Dominica
12. Fiji
13. Gabon
14. Kyrgyzstan
15. Nepal
16. Nigeria
17. Senegal
18. Tajikistan
19. Togo
20. Tonga
21. Tuvalu
22. Uganda
23. Vanuatu
24. Venezuela
25. Zimbabwe
Countries affected from January 21, 2026
26. Bhutan
27. Botswana
28. Central African Republic
29. Guinea
30. Guinea-Bissau
31. Namibia
32. Turkmenistan
Countries affected from October 23, 2025
33. Mauritania
34. São Tomé and Príncipe
35. Tanzania
Countries affected from October 11, 2025
36. The Gambia
Countries affected from August 20, 2025
37. Malawi
38. Zambia
