Experts Seek Reciprocal Measures As US $20,000 Visa Bond Imposed On Nigerians, Others Takes Effect Today
Nigerian experts in diplomacy and international affairs have called on the Federal government to take reciprocal measures against the United States over what they described as “discriminatory and ridiculous” imposition of $20,000 visa bonds against Nigerian travellers and nationals of other African countries.
Effective Monday, August 3, 2026, the United States intends to carry out its threat to compel Nigerians and other African business and tourist visa applicants to deposit up to $20,000 as a guarantee that they will depart America at the expiration of their stay.
This decision by the President Donald Trump administration was reportedly predicated on rising visa overstay cases and poor information sharing by several countries on the continent.
The rule establishes a permanent Visa Bond Programme after the pilot phase that began in August 2025.
The US Department of State said the rule, which was published Saturday was intended to address the vexed issue of the hundreds of thousands of non-immigrant visitors who remain in the US beyond what was permitted.
According to the Department, the policy targets applicants from countries “with high overstay rates, deficient information sharing, insufficient identity verification and criminal records, and that need improvement in the area of screening and vetting and the security of travel and civil documents.”
The Department linked the policy to Executive Order 14159, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which directs the Treasury, State and Homeland Security departments to strengthen bond administration under US immigration law.
In a related development, the US Embassy in Nigeria has cautioned Nigerians against using AI-edited passport photos for visa applications, stating that it will not accept photos that have been edited or filtered.
“Your photo should be recent (taken within the past six months) and look like you. The TSA or CBP agent must be able to tell it’s you,” it said
Speaking to LEADERSHIP on Sunday, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Singapore, Ambassador Ogbole Ode, said the decision was aimed at shutting the doors against Nigerians and other Africans by an increasingly desperate US Government.
He advised the Nigerian government to activate the “principle of reciprocity” and impose severe measures on US visa applicants as well, including higher bond requirements.
Also speaking, public intellectual Dr Katch Ononuju, described the visa bond as “punitive and abnormal”, stressing that it is discriminatory and might not work in the long run.
Dr. Ononuju also urged the Nigerian government to hit back at the US even as he advised Nigerians to remain calm.
International Constitutional Law expert Livingstone Wechie said the decision is an opportunity for Nigeria and other African countries to rethink their strategies towards the US and find ways to enhance their global relevance rather than relying on the US.
“The US has just told Africa to stand up and take its destiny into its own hands instead of seeking validation from the West. It is a window for Africa’s turnaround and to rise to its full potential by implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreements (AfCFTA),” he said.
Other African countries affected include Algeria, Tunisia, Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, São Tomé and Príncipe.
Others include: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
