The United States (U.S) Department of State has officially transitioned its Visa Bond Pilot Program into a permanent immigration enforcement policy.
Effective August 3, 2026, non-immigrant B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visa applicants from designated countries—including Nigeria—may be required to post a refundable financial bond of up to $20,000 USD before receiving entry approval.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the U.S permanent visa bond program targets nations identified with higher historical visa overstay rates or identity-verification gaps, aiming to incentivize strict compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
The U.S State Department, in a federal notice posted online, explained that the measure, which was initially introduced as a pilot scheme, is aimed at improving compliance with US immigration laws.
Travellers who adhere to visa conditions and leave the country within the approved period will have their bonds refunded.
The notice read: “Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.
“The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program, has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”
The 50 countries whose nationals will be affected by the permanent U.S visa bond program are:
- Algeria (January 21, 2026)
- Angola (January 21, 2026)
- Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026)
- Bangladesh (January 21, 2026)
- Benin (January 21, 2026)
- Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
- Botswana (January 1, 2026)
- Burundi (January 21, 2026)
- Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026)
- Cambodia (April 2, 2026)
- Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
- Côte D’Ivoire (January 21, 2026)
- Cuba (January 21, 2026)
- Djibouti (January 21, 2026)
- Dominica (January 21, 2026)
- Ethiopia (April 2, 2026)
- Fiji (January 21, 2026)
- Gabon (January 21, 2026)
- The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
- Georgia (April 2, 2026)
- Grenada (April 2, 2026)
- Guinea (January 1, 2026)
- Guinea-Bissau (January 1, 2026)
- Kyrgyz Republic (January 21, 2026)
- Lesotho (April 2, 2026)
- Malawi (August 20, 2025)
- Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
- Mauritius (April 2, 2026)
- Mongolia (April 2, 2026)
- Mozambique (April 2, 2026)
- Namibia (January 1, 2026)
- Nepal (January 21, 2026)
- Nicaragua (April 2, 2026)
- Nigeria (January 21, 2026)
- Papua New Guinea (April 2, 2026)
- Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
- Senegal (January 21, 2026)
- Seychelles (April 2, 2026)
- Tajikistan (January 21, 2026)
- Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
- Togo (January 21, 2026)
- Tonga (January 21, 2026)
- Tunisia (April 2, 2026)
- Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
- Tuvalu (January 21, 2026)
- Uganda (January 21, 2026)
- Vanuatu (January 21, 2026)
- Venezuela (January 21, 2026)
- Zambia (August 20, 2025)
- Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026)
Applicants who are directed to participate in the programme must complete the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352.
The government warned applicants not to submit the form or make any payment unless they receive instructions from a consular officer.
The bond may be paid by the applicant or a third party, including a relative, friend or business associate.
Payments must be made through the U.S. government’s official Pay.gov platform after applicants receive a direct payment link.
The State Department cautioned against using unofficial websites, noting that it would not be responsible for payments made outside approved government channels.
It added that the name of the person paying the bond must match the name of the obligor listed on Form I-352.
The department stressed that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval and warned that applicants who make payments without official instructions from a consular officer would not receive refunds.
Travel restrictions under the programme
Travellers covered by the visa bond requirement must enter and leave the United States through approved commercial airports, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations.
They are not permitted to enter through charter flights, private aircraft, land border crossings or seaports under the programme.
When will the bond be refunded?
The State Department said the bond will be cancelled and refunded if:
- The traveller leaves the United States on or before the date authorised by immigration officials.
- The visa holder does not travel to the United States before the visa expires.
- The traveller is denied entry at a U.S. port of entry.
When can the bond be forfeited?
The Department of Homeland Security may determine that the bond has been breached if a traveller fails to comply with the programme’s conditions.
Violations that may lead to forfeiture include:
- Remaining in the United States beyond the authorised period.
- Failing to depart after the approved stay expires.
- Violating the terms of the visa bond, including certain immigration status adjustment situations.
The State Department said the programme is based on provisions of the US Immigration and Nationality Act and takes into account visitor overstay rates reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
It added that the requirement applies to eligible applicants regardless of where they submit their visa applications.
