The President Donald Trump’s administration has expanded a controversial immigration policy that requires some foreign travellers to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, with Nigeria now among the countries affected.
The U.S. State Department on Tuesday added 25 new countries to the visa bond list, bringing the total to 38 nations subject to the requirement.
Most of the affected countries are in Africa, alongside others in Latin America and Asia.
The new rule will take effect January 21, applying to countries such as Nigeria, Venezuela, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Cuba, among others.
Under the policy, travellers applying for B1/B2 visitor visas from listed countries must pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, with the exact amount determined during the visa interview.
The State Department says the bond does not guarantee visa approval, but applicants will get their money back if the visa is denied or if they comply fully with visa conditions after entry.
U.S. officials say the expansion builds on a pilot programme launched in August, targeting countries with high visa overstay rates and weak document security systems. The administration argues the measure is aimed at strengthening border control and discouraging illegal stays.
The visa bond rule is part of a wider immigration crackdown rolled out by the Trump administration, which has introduced changes affecting how foreigners travel to, work in and settle in the United States.
Among the new measures are mandatory in-person visa interviews, expanded disclosure of social media history, and stricter scrutiny of applicants’ family travel and residency records.
In December, the Department of Homeland Security also expanded the use of facial recognition technology for non-citizens entering and leaving the U.S., while the administration recently unveiled the “Trump Gold Card”, which is a fast-track immigration option that offers permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange for a $1m investment.
