The United States has made its visa bond programme permanent, requiring certain travellers from 50 countries, including Nigeria, to pay a refundable visa bond of up to $20,000 before they can obtain some categories of U.S. visas.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the requirement applies to applicants seeking B1/B2 business and tourist visas who are otherwise eligible for a visa but are directed by a consular officer to post a bond before the visa is issued.
The programme, which began as a pilot scheme, is intended to improve compliance with U.S. immigration laws. Travellers who comply with the terms of their visas and depart the United States within the approved period will have their bond refunded.
The department stated:
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.
“The 2025 visa bond pilot… has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond programme is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”
Countries affected
The 50 countries covered by the programme include 30 African nations. Among those listed are:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Central African Republic
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
Under the programme, not every applicant from these countries will automatically be required to pay the bond. Instead, a U.S. consular officer will determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether an applicant must post the refundable bond before a visa is issued.