Total Of 38 Countries Including Nigeria Forced To Pay Up To $15,000 US Visa Bonds
The United States has significantly broadened its policy requiring citizens of certain countries to post reimbursable visa bonds of up to $15,000 in a bid 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.
