Victor EzejaAs the U.S. government continues to implement immigration reforms, it has announced that Nigerians and other tourist and business visa applicants will soon be required to post bonds of up to $15,000.
This is part of President Donald Trump’s new U.S. pilot programme, which will begin on August 20th, 2025.
The goal of the programme is to discourage tourists from overstaying their visas, the US government said in a statement on Monday.
If the policy is put into effect, it would give US consular officials the authority to require bonds from visitors who are from nations with high overstay rates or where the US believes that screening and vetting processes are inadequate.
READ ALSO: Visa Fraud Attracts Life Ban – U.S Embassy Warns
Visa applicants may be asked to pay $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 in bonds, with officers typically requiring at least $10,000, according to the Federal Register notice.
Significantly impacted will be nations with visa overstay rates above 10 percent in 2023, including Angola, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cabo Verde, and Burkina Faso.
According to the notice, “If travelers depart in accordance with the terms of their visas, the funds will be returned to them,” Reuters reported.
This comes just four days after the US imposed import tariffs on Nigeria and other African countries.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
