Frank Okon

Nigeria on Tuesday entered the expanded list of countries whose business and tourist visitors must post up to $15000 as precondition for obtaining entry visa to the United States of America.

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According to the U.S. State Department reimbursable visa bonds are part of the policy to reduce the number of visitors who overstay their visas. U.S. officials say the measure addresses longstanding concerns about visa compliance and overstays, aiming to enhance American border and immigration controls.

The visa bond policy—implemented under President Donald Trump’s administration—started as a pilot program and now extends to citizens of 38 countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

According to the U.S. State Department, the latest expansion, effective January 21, 2026, added 25 more countries to a list that previously included 13, nearly tripling the policy’s reach.

The current full list includes Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The implementation dates vary between August 2025 and January 2026, depending on the country, as stated on official government notices.

The policy applies to applicants for temporary, non-immigrant B1/B2 visas—those seeking entry for business or tourism. The bond amount, which may be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, is set during the visa interview process and must be paid online through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.

Visa applicants must comply with additional requirements, including in-person interviews, providing several years of social media history, and documentation of travel and residence history.

Payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance; if an application is denied, the bond is refunded. For those who receive visas, the bond is returned after proof of lawful departure.

Successful applicants are required to use designated entry and exit ports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, or Washington Dulles International Airport, according to the State Department announcement.

Noncompliance with these requirements may result in denied entry or forfeiture of the bond.

The State Department’s website states: “Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.  The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview. The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352.

“Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov.  This requirement applies regardless of place of application. Applicants should submit Form I-352 to post a bond only after a consular officer directs them to do so. Applicants will receive a direct link to pay through Pay.gov. They must not use any third-party website for posting the bond.

“The U.S. Government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its systems. A bond does not guarantee visa issuance.  If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned.”

The policy is open-ended and could remain in place indefinitely as U.S. officials continue to monitor visa compliance and overstay rates. The State Department says it will evaluate the effectiveness of the bond requirement and adjust the program as necessary in response to overstay data and feedback from consular officers and stakeholders.

Individuals affected by the policy are advised to consult the U.S. State Department’s official website and seek updated guidance for application procedures, payment, and compliance rules. The list of countries and rules may change if overstay rates improve or as diplomatic relations evolve.