According to Premium Times, the United States has introduced an upfront visa-bond option that could require some visitors—including Nigerians in certain categories—to post a bond of up to $15,000 before travelling.
The report says the policy is designed to reduce overstays and ensure compliance with visa terms, but it may raise the cost of short-term travel for business meetings, family visits, medical trips, and tourism.
For Nigerians, the immediate impact is likely to be uneven: frequent travellers with strong documentation may see little change, while first-time applicants and applicants deemed higher-risk could face higher financial hurdles.
Also reported by other outlets and policy watchers, the move adds to tightening global travel compliance rules and may push travellers to strengthen documentation and plan timelines earlier.
Echotitbits take: This is less about “punishing” Nigeria and more about risk management in migration policy—but the real-world effect is friction. Watch for how widely the bond is applied in practice and whether it’s limited to narrow profiles or expands over time.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/us-introduces-15000-visa-bond-for-nigerians-others/ 7 January 2026
The Punch 2026-01-07
Photo Credit: The Punch