The United States has rolled out new travel rules that may require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 (business and tourist) visas to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000.

Visa bonds are financial guarantees introduced by the U.S. State Department for applicants from countries it classifies as high-risk. The bonds are meant to ensure that visa holders comply with the terms of their stay, including leaving the United States when their visas expire.

Nigeria is among 38 countries listed under the new policy, 24 of which are African, according to an updated notice released by the State Department on Tuesday.

The requirements will take effect on different dates for each country, with Nigeria’s implementation set for January 21.

According to the notice, “Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.”

Applicants will also be required to submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the U.S. Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. The State Department stressed that the rule applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.

However, officials warned that paying a bond does not automatically guarantee a visa. “A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned,” the notice added.

Under the new rules, visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through designated airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Boston Logan International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

The bond will only be refunded if the Department of Homeland Security confirms that the traveller left the U.S. on or before their authorised stay expires, if the applicant never travels before the visa expires, or if entry is denied at the port of arrival.

The policy comes just one week after partial U.S. travel restrictions on Nigeria took effect.

On December 16, the U.S. government placed Nigeria among 15 mostly African countries, including Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, and The Gambia, under partial travel suspensions.

In explaining Nigeria’s inclusion, U.S. authorities cited the presence of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of the country, saying this created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”

The U.S. also pointed to visa overstay figures, including a 5.56 percent overstay rate for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90 percent for F, M, and J visas, as part of the justification.

As a result, the restrictions apply to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, covering categories such as B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J. The earlier travel suspension took effect on January 1.