United States (US) has officially launched a permanent Visa Bond Programme, requiring eligible applicants for business and tourist visas from Nigeria and about 30 other African countries to pay refundable bonds of up to $20,000 before travelling to the U.S. The new policy took effect on Monday, August 3, 2026, as part of Washington’s efforts to curb visa overstays and strengthen compliance with U.S. immigration laws. Although the visa bond is intended to encourage compliance with immigration rules, it is generally refundable once the visitor leaves the United States within the authorised period and satisfies all applicable conditions. In a related development, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria advised visa applicants to avoid submitting passport photographs that have been altered with artificial intelligence tools or beauty filters. The introduction of the permanent visa bond programme marks another step in the United States’ broader immigration enforcement strategy, with officials saying the measure is designed to improve border security while promoting greater compliance with visa conditions.