The United States has introduced a new Visa Bond Programme that will require certain Nigerian and other African applicants for business and tourist visas to deposit between $10,000 and $20,000 as a guarantee that they will leave the country before their authorised stay expires.
According to the US government, the policy is aimed at reducing visa overstays, strengthening immigration compliance, and encouraging better cooperation on identity verification, document security, and information sharing.
Bond Amounts
Under the new programme, eligible applicants may be required to pay one of the following refundable bond amounts:
- $10,000
- $15,000
- $20,000
The amount will be determined by US consular officers during the visa interview based on factors such as the applicant’s purpose of travel, employment status, income, and ties to their home country.
The bond will be refunded without interest once the traveller leaves the United States within the approved period and complies with all visa conditions. However, applicants who overstay or violate the terms of their visa will forfeit the deposit.
Reason for the New Policy
The US Department of State said the programme is not intended as a punishment but as a compliance measure designed to reduce illegal overstays and improve cooperation with countries that have higher rates of visa violations.
During the programme’s 2025 pilot phase, visa issuance for affected countries reportedly fell by 83 percent, with nearly half of eligible applicants deciding not to continue their applications because of the bond requirement.
The department also disclosed that affected countries recorded 45,488 B1 and B2 visa overstays in 2024, while overstays among travellers covered by the pilot programme dropped significantly during its first ten months.
Countries Affected
The programme applies to applicants from several African countries, including:
- Nigeria
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Benin
- Senegal
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
New Passport Photo Rules
The US Mission in Nigeria also reminded visa applicants that passport photographs must be taken within the last six months and must not be edited using artificial intelligence, filters, or other digital enhancements.
According to the mission, photographs must accurately reflect the applicant’s appearance to support proper identity verification during the visa process.
The US government said the Visa Bond Programme is part of broader efforts to improve immigration screening, reduce visa overstays, and strengthen compliance with US immigration laws.
