The United States is strengthening their control measures on travel from Nigeria. From the 21st January 2026, Nigerian applicants for B1/B2 business and tourist visas might be required to deposit bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the US State Department.

Nigeria is among 38 countries concerned by this new policy, 24 of which are located in Africa, aimed at improving compliance with immigration rules for nationals countries considered to be at “high risk”. The exact deposit amounts will be determined by a consular officer during the visa interview, and the filing of The amount via the Pay.gov platform of the Treasury Department is mandatory.

The State Department has specified that the payment of the deposit does not guarantee the issuance of the visa and that any payment made without consular instructions will not be refunded. In addition, visa holders subject to this deposit will have to enter the United States through designated airports, such as Logan in Boston, JFK in New York or Dulles in Washington. The refund of the deposit will only be made if the traveller leaves American territory within the authorized period of time or if he is refused entry at an access point.

This decision follows from after the introduction, on 16 December last, of partial restrictions on travel imposed on Nigerians, due to security threats linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State, as well as high rates of overstay (5.56% for B1/B2 visas and up to 11.9% for student visas and of exchange F, M and J).

In addition to Nigeria, other African countries are on the list of restrictive measures, including Angola, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon and the Gambia. According to Washington, these restrictions are aimed at strengthening background checks and to limit the risks associated with travel from areas deemed sensitive.

This policy marks a significant intensification of requirements for Nigerian travelers and is already raising concerns about its impact on economic and tourist exchanges between the two countries.