Reporting by ThisDay Live indicates the United States has begun implementing a visa bond pilot that may require some B1/B2 (tourism/business) applicants from Nigeria and other countries to post financial guarantees ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
The bond requirement is not expected to apply to every applicant; it will be triggered by risk-based assessments during consular processing. Payments, where required, are to be made through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.
US authorities also stressed that a bond does not automatically mean approval, and third-party payment arrangements would not be accepted.
**Echotitbits take:** This raises the cost of legitimate travel for Nigerians and could chill short-term business and tourism flows. Watch for Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry response—especially any push for diplomatic engagement or reciprocity discussions.
Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/us-introduces-15000-visa-bond-for-nigerians-others/ 2026-01-08
Photo Credit: The Punch
