U.S. Introduces $15,000 Visa Bond Requirement: What This Means for Nigerian Travelers
The United States has announced that it’s launching a 12-month pilot program starting August 20. This may require applicants on business or tourist visas from certain countries to pay a refundable bond of $15,000, determined by consular officers during the visa interview. This significant policy may change the travel experience for nationals of certain countries, which could possibly include Nigeria. Recall that the United States revealed plans to denaturilize 25 million naturalized citizens earlier in the year.
The program specifically targets travellers from countries identified as having high visa overstay rates, insufficient identity or document screening, or those that offer citizenship by investment with minimal residency requirements. Nationals of Malawi and Zambia are the first confirmed to be affected, but the list is expected to expand.
Who Is Affected?
The pilot program initially targets travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates, document fraud concerns, or those that offer citizenship-by-investment schemes with little to no residency requirements. So far, Malawi and Zambia are the only countries publicly confirmed to be affected.
However, Nigeria may also be at risk of inclusion, given its past visa overstay statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2019 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, Nigeria recorded one of the highest overstay rates for B-1/B-2 visa holders among African nations. Over 24,000 Nigerians were reported to have overstayed their temporary visitor visas in that year alone.
Additionally, concerns about document verification, identity management, and occasional abuse of citizenship-by-investment policies further increase Nigeria’s vulnerability to inclusion in this program.
Why Is the U.S. Doing This?
This initiative is part of efforts to enforce immigration laws more stringently and deter individuals from misusing temporary visas. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department noted that, “The pilot reinforces the then Trump Administration’s commitment to enforce U.S. immigration laws and protect national security.”
While the policy was first proposed under the Trump administration and published in the Federal Register in November 2020, its delayed implementation under subsequent administrations is seen as part of a broader effort to balance enforcement with diplomacy.
How Will This Bond Process Work?
First, If a traveler is flagged during a visa interview, the applicant will receive instructions to submit the bond via the official pay.gov portal using Form I‑352. The bond is refundable if the traveler fully complies with all visa terms and departs on time. However, if the traveler fails to comply by overstaying, engages in unauthorized employment, or visa violations, this can result in forfeiture of the bond.
Again, visas issued under this pilot will also be single-entry and valid for only three months, with a likely 30-day limit on U.S. stay set by Customs and Border Protection, much shorter than the usual six-month period. Travelers may also be required to enter and exit the U.S. only through select airports like JFK, Boston, or Dulles.
If you’re a Nigerian planning to travel to the U.S. in the coming months, it’s important to monitor updates from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria or the State Department for any announcements about Nigeria’s inclusion in the pilot.
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