The Trump administration is permanently extending a visa bond programme requiring nationals from 50 countries — including Nigeria — to deposit up to $20,000 before travelling to the United States, after a year-long pilot recorded an 83 per cent drop in visa issuance and fewer than 50 overstays among bonded travellers.
The United States is making its visa bond programme permanent, requiring nationals from 50 countries — including Nigeria — to pay refundable deposits of up to $20,000 before entering the country.
In a draft notice published Friday, the US State Department said the year-long Visa Bond Pilot Programme, introduced in August 2025, had proven effective at curbing visa overstays. The department cited data showing nationals from the 50 affected countries recorded 45,488 overstays in the 2024 financial year, compared with fewer than 50 during the first ten months of the pilot.
Under the permanent programme, consular officers may require bonds of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, depending on individual circumstances. The standard bond is set at $15,000 — higher than the pilot’s starting rate of $5,000. Bonds may be lowered to $10,000 for applicants with limited finances, or raised to $20,000 for those with strong US ties that suggest overstay risk.
The State Department noted that visa issuance to citizens of the affected countries declined by 83 per cent during the pilot, partly because many eligible applicants declined to pay the bond. Refunds are issued if travellers depart before their authorised stay expires, do not travel before the visa expires, or are denied entry at a US port of entry.
Consular officers may consider factors including purpose of visit, employment, income, education, and professional skills when setting bond amounts. The rule applies regardless of where visa applications are submitted. The country list may be updated periodically, with additions requiring at least 15 days’ notice.
THE 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
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