US Visa from Nigeria (2026): Travel Ban, Bond, Fees, Lagos

US visa from Nigeria in 2026: the suspension, bond, fees and interviews

By the SkyKoda travel desk · Updated 27 October 2026

Short answer: New US visitor (B1/B2) visas for Nigerians are suspended since 1 January 2026 under Presidential Proclamation 10998, with limited exceptions (for example green card holders and dual nationals travelling on another country's passport). Visas issued before that date stay valid. Applicants found eligible must post a bond of up to $20,000, the application fee is $185, and since 1 August 2026 routine visa interviews are only in Lagos. Status checked 27 October 2026.

US visa for Nigerians: key facts (2026)

  • Under Presidential Proclamation 10998 (signed 16 Dec 2025, published 19 Dec 2025), entry of Nigerian nationals as immigrants and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas is suspended. Consular officers must also reduce the validity of any other nonimmigrant visa issued to Nigerians as far as the law allows. federalregister.gov
  • The suspension took effect on 1 January 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST. It applies only to people who were outside the US on that date AND held no valid visa then. No visa issued before that date has been or will be revoked under the proclamation. Affected applicants may still apply and attend interviews, but they may be found ineligible for the visa or for entry. ng.usembassy.gov
  • The proclamation has named exceptions: lawful permanent residents (green card holders); dual nationals travelling on a passport from a country that is not restricted; A/G/C-2/C-3/NATO diplomatic visas; athletes and teams for the World Cup, Olympics or other major sporting events; certain Special Immigrant Visas. It also allows case-by-case national-interest exceptions, but only the Secretary of State, the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security can grant one. federalregister.gov
  • The proclamation has no end date; it is reviewed every 180 days. As of 27 October 2026 the suspension was still in force, and the US Mission Nigeria visa page still showed the notice. ng.usembassy.gov
  • Nigerians who are found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of up to $20,000 before the visa can be issued. The consular officer gives the instructions at the interview. Pay the bond only on the website named in those instructions, and only after the officer tells you to. This applies wherever you apply. ng.usembassy.gov
  • The State Department's Visa Bond Program became permanent on 3 August 2026, after a pilot that started on 20 August 2025. Officers may require B-1/B-2 applicants from covered countries to post a bond of up to $20,000. News reports say Nigeria was added on 21 January 2026, with set amounts of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. federalregister.gov
  • From 1 August 2026, the US Embassy in Abuja no longer handles routine visa applications. All routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services in Nigeria are at the US Consulate General in Lagos, 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island. Abuja handles only diplomatic and official (A, G, C) visas. An unused, still-valid MRV fee receipt can be used to book in Lagos. ng.usembassy.gov
  • The visa application (MRV) fee for B1/B2 and other common nonimmigrant visas is US$185. It is non-refundable and non-transferable, must be paid whether or not a visa is issued, and is valid for one year from payment. You can pay in naira by cash or bank transfer at First Bank (the deposit slip expires after 3 days; allow 1 business day before booking) or by card in USD (instant). ng.usembassy.gov
  • Visa reciprocity: from 8 July 2025, most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic US visas issued to Nigerians are single-entry with three-month validity. Visas issued before 8 July 2025 keep their original terms. ng.usembassy.gov
  • A $250 'visa integrity fee' was created by a July 2025 US law, charged when a visa is issued. As of 27 October 2026 there was no official notice that it is being collected in Nigeria. alliance-exchange.org
  • Interview waiver ('dropbox') rules since 1 October 2025: a waiver is possible for B1/B2 renewals only if your previous B visa was full-validity, expired within the last 12 months, and was issued when you were 18 or older, with no past refusal. Officers can still require an interview. travel.state.gov

If you still need to apply

  1. First check whether you are affected by Proclamation 10998. If you are a Nigerian national without a valid US visa issued before 1 Jan 2026, a new B1/B2 visa can currently be issued only if you fall into an exception (e.g. you also hold a passport from an unrestricted country, or you are travelling for a major sporting event). Talk to the US Mission before paying anything.
  2. Complete the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application at ceac.state.gov/genniv and print the confirmation page.
  3. Create a profile on the official appointment system linked from ng.usembassy.gov (usvisaappt.com, country = Nigeria) and pay the US$185 MRV fee: in naira at First Bank by cash or EFT using the generated deposit slip (valid 3 days), or by card in USD.
  4. Book an interview at the US Consulate General Lagos (2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island). Since 1 Aug 2026, Abuja does not take routine visa applications.
  5. Attend the interview with your passport, DS-160 confirmation, appointment confirmation and supporting documents.
  6. If the officer finds you eligible for B1/B2, you will get instructions to post a visa bond of up to $20,000. Pay it only on the website named by the officer, and only after being told to. The visa cannot be issued until the bond is paid.

Documents for the interview

  • Valid passport (plus all old passports covering previous US visas)
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • MRV fee payment receipt (US$185)
  • Appointment confirmation letter
  • Supporting documents showing the purpose of your trip, your funds and your ties to Nigeria (job letter, business registration, bank statements, travel history). The officer decides what to look at.
  • Bond payment proof, only if a consular officer instructs you to post a bond

Tips

  • Don't pay agents who promise a 'guaranteed' US visa or a quick bond. The embassy says to pay the bond only on the website the consular officer names, and only after being told to. Book and pay only through the official links on ng.usembassy.gov. ng.usembassy.gov
  • If you hold a valid US visa issued before 1 Jan 2026, it is still usable. Check its expiry and number of entries before booking flights, because a new visa is very hard to get under the current rules. ng.usembassy.gov
  • Pay the MRV fee by card in USD if you want to book straight away. Naira bank payments need about one business day to clear, and the deposit slip expires after 3 days. ng.usembassy.gov

Already have a valid US visa?

A US visa issued before 1 January 2026 can still be used until it expires. Compare flights to New York, Washington, Atlanta and Houston in one search, and pay in full or from 25% with Pay Small Small.

SkyKoda sells flights, not visas. Rules change often: always confirm with the embassy or official website before you pay or travel. Facts checked 27 October 2026.

Common questions

Can Nigerians still get a US tourist (B1/B2) visa in 2026?

Generally no. Since 1 January 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 has suspended entry of Nigerian nationals on B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas and immigrant visas, with limited exceptions (green card holders, dual nationals using an unrestricted passport, major sporting events, diplomats, and case-by-case national-interest exceptions). You may still apply and attend an interview, but you may be found ineligible. As of 27 Oct 2026 it has not been lifted.

Is my existing US visa still valid?

Yes, if it was issued before 1 January 2026 and has not expired. No visas issued before that date have been or will be revoked under the proclamation. Entry is still at the discretion of US border officers.

How much is the US visa fee in Nigeria?

The MRV application fee for B1/B2 is US$185, non-refundable and valid one year. If you are found eligible, Nigerians must also post a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before the visa is issued. The separate $250 visa integrity fee is in law, but there was no official notice that it is collected in Nigeria as of 27 Oct 2026.

Can I still have my US visa interview in Abuja?

No. From 1 August 2026, routine visa services are only at the US Consulate General in Lagos. Abuja handles only diplomatic and official visas. Existing Abuja appointments were honoured or rescheduled by email, and unused valid MRV receipts can be used to book in Lagos.

How long is a US visa valid for Nigerians now?

Since 8 July 2025, most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians are single-entry with 3-month validity. Proclamation 10998 also tells officers to cut the validity of any other nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians.

How long is the wait for a US visa interview in Lagos?

Wait times change often. Check the State Department's Global Visa Wait Times tool (select Lagos). The figure changes, so check the tool just before you book.

Ready to fly? Compare every airline we can sell, pay in full or from 25% with FlexPay, ₦0 service charge.

Search flights or book on WhatsApp

Sources

More travel guides