The United States has made permanent its visa bond programme, a move that could require some Nigerian travellers and applicants from 49 other countries to pay a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before they can obtain certain US visitor visas.
Under the new rule, US consular officers may require eligible applicants from designated countries to post the bond before a visa is issued. The money is refundable if the traveller complies with the terms of the visa and leaves the United States within the authorised period, but it may be forfeited if the holder breaches the visa conditions.
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The latest development means Nigerians seeking business or tourist visas could face significantly higher upfront travel costs in cases where a bond is imposed. Brandspur Politics understands that the maximum bond has been increased to $20,000, replacing the previous pilot arrangement that allowed bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
US authorities said the decision followed a review of the pilot scheme, which they believe helped reduce visa overstays among travellers from affected countries. Officials said the programme will remain part of the country’s visa process, with the list of affected countries subject to future review.
The permanent programme primarily targets nationals from 50 countries, many of them in Africa, including Nigeria. It applies only to certain B-1 business and B-2 tourist visa applicants and does not automatically affect every traveller from the listed countries. Instead, consular officers will determine when a visa bond is required based on the programme’s guidelines.
