US Visa Bond To Require Up To $20,000 From Nigerian Applicants

Nigerian applicants for United States business and tourist visas may soon be required to deposit up to $20,000 before travelling, under a new visa-bond programme reported to take effect on Monday, August 3, 2026.

THISDAY reported that the permanent programme will apply to qualified B-1/B-2 applicants from countries selected because of overstay rates, information-sharing concerns and weaknesses in identity and document verification. Consular officers will determine whether a bond is required and set the amount at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 based on the applicant’s circumstances.

The bond is intended to guarantee that visitors leave the United States when their authorised stay ends. Under the reported arrangement, the money would be deposited as a condition of the visa process rather than treated as a visa fee.

The policy could make US travel significantly more expensive for Nigerians who need business or short-term visitor visas. It may also discourage some applicants from proceeding, especially those who cannot readily provide a large deposit in addition to the normal application costs.

The report said the programme follows a pilot that began in August 2025. During that pilot, visa issuance for the affected countries fell sharply, while the US said overstays among the participating countries also dropped.

The development comes shortly after the US Mission in Nigeria warned applicants against using AI-edited or filtered passport photographs. In an earlier report here, the mission said applicants should submit recent photographs that accurately reflect their appearance.

Source: THISDAY