The United States has made its visa bond programme permanent, requiring certain travellers from 50 countries, including Nigeria and 29 other African nations, to post a refundable visa bond of up to $20,000 before obtaining selected U.S. non-immigrant visas.
The U.S. Department of State announced that the requirement applies to some applicants seeking B1/B2 business and tourist visas who are deemed eligible for a visa but are instructed by a consular officer to provide a bond as a condition for visa issuance.
The department, in a federal notice published on Friday, said the policy—initially introduced as a pilot programme in 2025—proved effective in improving compliance with U.S. immigration laws and will now become a permanent feature of the visa process for designated applicants.
According to the notice, travellers who comply with the terms of their visas and depart the United States within the authorised period will receive a full refund of the bond.
It 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, which provided a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond programme, 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 programme covers nationals of the following 50 countries:
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
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
The effective implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria listed as January 21, 2026.
How the Programme Works
Applicants selected for the programme must complete the Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 after receiving instructions from a U.S. consular officer.
The State Department warned applicants not to submit the form or make any payment unless officially directed to do so.
The bond may be paid either by the applicant or by a third party, such as a relative, friend or business associate.
Payments must be made exclusively through the U.S. government’s official Pay.gov platform using a payment link provided by the consular officer. Authorities cautioned applicants against making payments through unofficial websites, noting that payments made outside approved government channels would not be recognised.
Officials also stressed that the name of the individual making the payment must match the obligor listed on Form I-352.
Importantly, payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval, and applicants who make payments without official instructions will not be eligible for refunds.
Travel Restrictions
Travellers subject to the visa bond programme must enter and leave the United States through approved commercial airports, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facilities.
They are prohibited from entering through charter flights, private aircraft, land border crossings or seaports while participating in the programme.
When the Bond Will Be Refunded
The visa bond will be cancelled and refunded if:
The traveller leaves the United States on or before the authorised departure date.
The visa holder does not travel to the United States before the visa expires.
The traveller is denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.
When the Bond Can Be Forfeited
The Department of Homeland Security may declare the bond forfeited if a traveller breaches the programme’s conditions.
Circumstances that could lead to forfeiture include:
Remaining in the United States beyond the authorised period.
Failing to depart after the approved stay expires.
Violating the conditions of the visa bond, including certain immigration status adjustment violations.
The State Department said the permanent programme is backed by provisions of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and is based, in part, on visitor overstay data compiled by the Department of Homeland Security.
It added that the requirement applies to eligible applicants regardless of the country in which they submit their visa applications.
