The page changed October 2; the start dates did not all change
The Department of State updated its public list of countries subject to nonimmigrant visa bonds on October 2, 2026. The page pairs each country with its own implementation date. Nigeria is listed with January 21, 2026—not October 2—so the update should not be reported as a brand-new Nigerian requirement beginning this weekend.
The list includes many African, Caribbean, Asian and Pacific countries with different start dates. An applicant should check the current page close to the interview because the Department may revise the list. Citizenship or nationality and the passport used matter; residence in a different country does not automatically remove the rule.
Who may actually be told to post a bond
The State Department says a citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by a listed country who is otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 visa must post a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. The consular officer determines the amount at the visa interview. A listing therefore does not mean every visitor should pay in advance or that a bond cures an ineligibility.
The phrase ‘otherwise eligible’ matters. The officer first evaluates the visa application under the ordinary nonimmigrant-visa rules. A bond is not a substitute for a credible temporary purpose, accurate DS-160, financial explanation, travel plan or proof that the applicant will comply with the authorized stay.
Never pay before the consular officer directs you
The official instructions say to submit Form I-352 and use Pay.gov only after a consular officer provides the direction and payment link. Paying a person, travel agent or look-alike website before that direction does not satisfy the requirement. The State Department warns that unauthorized payments will not be returned.
The applicant or a third party may pay. The person who posts the bond is the obligor and is the person to whom a qualifying refund is returned. The obligor’s name on Form I-352 must match the payer’s name, and payment and refund are in U.S. dollars. Exchange-rate changes are the obligor’s responsibility.
- Wait for written consular instructions and the direct Pay.gov link.
- Confirm the amount: $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
- Match the obligor’s name to the person making the payment.
- Save the completed I-352, Pay.gov confirmation and every consular message.
- Treat requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards or private transfers as a fraud warning.
Travel is limited to commercial air ports
A visa holder who posted this bond must enter and leave through a commercial air port of entry, including a CBP preclearance location. The State Department says charter air, general aviation, land and sea ports may not be used for bonded travel. This is a condition of the bond, not a casual itinerary preference.
Keep boarding passes, passport entry stamps when provided, airline confirmations and a copy of the electronic I-94. Before leaving, verify the authorized-stay date rather than relying only on the visa expiration date. A visa permits travel to seek admission; the I-94 normally records the admitted period.
Refund and breach turn on recorded compliance
The State Department describes automatic cancellation and return in several situations, including no travel before visa expiration, timely departure through commercial air after a compliant stay, or CBP refusal of admission and visa cancellation recorded in government systems. A timely and properly filed extension or change-of-status request can affect the analysis, but the exact bond terms remain controlling.
Potential breaches include substantial status violations, overstaying, certain untimely extension or change-of-status filings, and filing Form I-589 for asylum or withholding. These consequences are serious and fact-specific. Anyone considering a status filing or humanitarian protection after entering with a visa bond should seek qualified legal advice promptly rather than making a decision from a checklist.
A bond is not an approval promise
Posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, admission at the airport or a refund. A consular officer still decides the visa application, and CBP still decides admission. The applicant must continue to answer truthfully and comply with the visa, admission and bond terms.
For Nigerian applicants, the useful response to the October 2 page update is not panic or prepayment. It is careful interview preparation, a fraud-resistant payment plan in case an officer gives directions, and a travel record designed to prove timely compliance.