The United States government has implemented a new visa bond requirement for Nigerian travelers and nationals of 37 other countries. This policy mandates that affected applicants post substantial financial guarantees before being granted U.S. visitor visas and restricts their entry and exit to specific American airports. The new measure is part of a pilot program established under Section 221(g)(3) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, aimed at addressing concerns over visa overstays, particularly from countries with higher overstay rates, and broader efforts to strengthen immigration compliance.

Under the policy, certain applicants seeking B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas from the listed countries will be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the outcome of an assessment conducted during their visa interview. For Nigerians, this requirement will take effect on January 21, 2026. The U.S. Department of State clarified that the bond requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted, meaning Nigerians applying from outside the country will also be subject to the policy.

Nigeria is among 38 countries impacted by this policy, with 24 of them being African nations. Other African countries on the list include Benin, Togo, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Angola, and Zambia. Countries from Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America are also affected. Implementation dates for the various countries range from August 2025 to January 2026.

To fulfill the bond requirement, applicants must complete Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and make payments exclusively through the U.S. Treasury’s official Pay.gov platform. Officials have issued warnings against using third-party websites, stating that payments made outside official channels will not be recognized or refunded. It is also important to note that the payment of a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance, as applications may still be refused after payment.

A critical condition for affected visa holders is that they must enter and exit the United States only through three designated airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York), Washington Dulles International Airport (Virginia), and Boston Logan International Airport (Massachusetts). Failure to comply with these designated ports of entry may result in denied admission or an improperly recorded departure, which could trigger penalties under the bond agreement.

The visa bonds are refundable under specific circumstances. They will be automatically canceled and refunded if travelers depart the United States on or before their authorized stay expires, if they do not travel before visa expiration, or if they are denied entry at the port of arrival. However, there are conditions for bond forfeiture: overstaying, failing to depart, or attempting to change immigration status—including applying for asylum—may lead to the bond being forfeited, with cases referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for enforcement action.

This new measure follows partial U.S. travel restrictions imposed on Nigeria and 14 other countries in mid-December 2025. These earlier restrictions cited the free operation of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of Nigeria, creating “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.” High visa overstay rates were also a significant factor, with Nigeria having an overstay rate of 5.56 percent on B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90 percent on F, M, and J visas. The Trump administration had previously attempted a similar visa bond program in 2020, but it was not fully implemented due to the decrease in global travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. An expanded list, including Nigeria, was reintroduced after an initial reintroduction in August 2025 for Malawi and Zambia. The U.S. government anticipates significant reactions to this policy in affected countries, including Nigeria, where travel to the United States remains popular for business, education, and family visits.