The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa bond programme that could require applicants from Nigeria, and 49 other countries, mostly from Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 when seeking U.S. visas, according to a federal notice, opens new tabposted online.
Blueprint reports that the Federal Register notice applies to B1 and B2 visas, which are issued for business and tourism travel.
“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 notice said.
The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond programme, has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”
In the pilot programme, consular officers could require bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or up to $15,000. The final rule eliminates the $5,000 option and raises the maximum bond to $20,000.
The final rule goes into effect on August 3, when it is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register. In the list of 50 countries, opens new tab for whose citizens this programme applies, 30 are from Africa.
U.S. officials said the policy was intended to reduce visa overstays. Immigration advocates have argued it will deter legitimate travel to the United States.
Rights advocates said President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown violates free speech and due process, while creating an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities and encouraging racial profiling. Trump has defended the measures as necessary to bolster national security.