United States has introduced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1 B2 visas to post visa bonds of up to $15,000.
US visa
In the State Department notice, it said that “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”, adding that “the amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.”
The notice also explained that applicants must complete extra documentation and payment steps, stating: “The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I 352” and “Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay gov.”
It also warned applicants not to pay without being told to, stressing that “a bond does not guarantee visa issuance” and that “if someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned.”
For Nigerians, the report says the policy start date is January 21, and it applies “regardless of place of application.”
The new requirement also comes with entry restrictions. Visa holders who post bonds must enter through selected US airports, including Boston Logan, John F Kennedy in New York, and Washington Dulles in Virginia.
On refunds, the notice said the bond will only be returned when the Department of Homeland Security confirms the person left the US on time, when the person never travelled before the visa expired, or if they applied for entry and were refused at the border.
This is happening alongside the earlier partial travel restrictions affecting Nigeria. The US cited security and screening concerns, including the “free operation of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of the country, creating substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
It also cited visa overstay rates, including “an overstay rate of 5.56 percent on the B 1 B 2 visa” and “an overstay rate of 11.90 percent on the F, M, and J visas.”
