Outrage as US introduces $15,000 visa bond for Nigerians

The United States has introduced stricter immigration rules that will affect Nigerians and travellers from about 50 countries.

Under the new policy, some visa applicants may be required to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before they are allowed to enter the U.S.

This rule will start on April 2, 2026, and mainly applies to people applying for B1/B2 visas, which are used for business or tourism visits.

The money paid as a bond will be returned if the traveller follows all visa rules, especially leaving the United States before their stay expires.

According to U.S. officials, the policy is meant to reduce the number of people who overstay their visas. They said the programme has already been successful, with about 97% of participants obeying the rules.

The number of countries affected has now increased to 50, with many of them in Africa. U.S. authorities say this is because of higher risks of visa overstays from these countries.

The bond amount will range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the applicant’s risk level. This adds an extra financial requirement to the visa process.

Some critics believe the policy could make it harder for people from developing countries to travel because of the high upfront cost.

However, U.S. officials argue that it will help reduce the cost of deporting people who overstay, which can cost more than $18,000 per person.

Nigeria is among the countries affected by this new policy.