US imposes permanent visa bond of up to $20,000 on Nigerian visitors from August 3
The US Department of State has made its Visa Bond Program permanent, effective Monday, August 3 2026. From that date, consular officers can require Nigerian applicants for B‑1/B‑2 business or tourist visas to post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, paid electronically through the US Treasury’s payment system before a visa is issued. The bond is returned if the visitor complies with the terms of admission and leaves the United States before the authorised stay expires; it is forfeited if the holder overstays, violates visa conditions, files certain immigration applications late or breaks other programme rules. Nigeria remains on the list of affected countries after being in the one‑year pilot that began in August 2025, which the State Department says cut overstays from the pilot countries to fewer than 50 in ten months compared with 45,488 in FY 2024 and caused an 83% drop in visa issuances as some applicants withdrew after being asked to post a bond. At the same time, routine visa services are moving from the US Embassy in Abuja to the US Consulate General in Lagos starting August 1, 2026.
Why it matters: Nigerians planning short‑term trips to the US now face a potential financial hurdle of up to ₦16 million (at today’s rate) that could deter travel, affect business trips, family visits or tourism, and add complexity to the visa process.
What you should know: Check the latest updates on travel.state.gov, consider applying before August 3 if you want to avoid the bond, budget for the possible cost, and ensure you fully understand the visa conditions to avoid forfeiture. Will you budget for the possible bond, apply before the deadline, or look at alternative destinations for your US travel?