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Paying for a U.S. Visa in Nigeria
Two changes in 2026 affect Nigerian applicants, and they are separate measures that are often confused. This page separates what the U.S. Mission in Nigeria publishes from what it leaves unstated — because the gaps are where people get caught.
We read the U.S. Mission Nigeria visa page on 14 September 2026. Quotations below are from it.
The $15,000 bond, in the embassy's own words
From 21 January 2026, the notice reads:
Starting January 21, 2026, nationals of Nigeria who are found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of up to $15,000.
Four details in that notice matter more than the number, and each is stated directly:
- The consular officer tells you at the interview. "At the time of the interview, the consular officer will inform the applicant whether they are eligible for a visa and will provide instructions on how to pay this bond." You do not arrange it in advance.
- Never use a third-party website. "Applicants must not use any third-party website for posting the bond, nor pay a bond before instructed to do so by a consular officer." A $15,000 payment that someone offers to handle for you is the shape of a scam.
- No visa until the bond is paid. "B1/B2 visas for nationals of Nigeria cannot be issued until the bond has been paid."
- Applying elsewhere does not avoid it. "This requirement applies regardless of place of application."
The bond is not the visa application fee, and paying one does not reduce the other. See the U.S. visa bond programme.
Abuja stopped routine visa services. Lagos did not.
Effective 1 August 2026, the Department of State consolidated visa services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Abuja is on the list of posts that ceased routine visa services. The notice says those applicants:
must schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at the appropriate designated regional hub.
Note that it is both the appointment and the fee that move to the hub.
Lagos is not on the cease list, and the U.S. Consulate General Lagos is still shown as a location providing consular services, at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island.
Which hub serves former Abuja applicants is not published. The notice says "the appropriate designated regional hub" and never names it. Lagos being open is not the same as Lagos being the designated hub for Abuja's caseload, and we will not tell you it is — that would be a guess about a trip you would pay for. Check your own email: the notice says applicants with scheduled interviews should "monitor your email for specific guidance."
See the Africa visa hubs page for the full list of 25 affected posts.
Where the fee is paid
Nigeria is one of the 14 countries listed by AVITS, the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Information and Appointment Service at usvisaappt.com, where applicants create an account, pay the visa application fee and book the interview. That list is published on the AVITS homepage, read on 9 September 2026.
Being precise about the source: AVITS lists Nigeria among the countries it serves. The Nigeria embassy page itself does not mention AVITS or link to it. If your instructions name a different service, follow your instructions — and see which appointment site applies to your country.
The fee is $185 for B-1/B-2 visitor and F, M and J student and exchange visas, and higher for petition-based categories. Current amounts are on the Department of State fee schedule and in our visa cost breakdown.
You are also under Proclamation 10998
Nigeria is on the partial suspension list: immigrant visas plus B-1, B-2, F, M and J. Other nonimmigrant categories are not suspended, but consular officers are directed to reduce visa validity where the law allows.
The embassy states plainly that you may still apply:
Applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.
The application fee is not refunded if you are found ineligible. That is the financial risk of applying while designated — read the travel ban guide before paying.
Social media must be public for many categories
Applicants for A-3, C-3 (domestic worker), G-5, H-1B, H-3, H-4 dependants of H-1B and H-3, F, M, J, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T and U visas are instructed to set all social media accounts to "public" or "open". See the DS-160 social media section.
Where the posts are
| Post | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Embassy Abuja | Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja | (234)-209-461-4000 |
| U.S. Consulate General Lagos | 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos | (234)-201-460-3400 |
Lagos business hours are Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the U.S. visa bond for Nigerians?
Up to $15,000, from 21 January 2026, for nationals of Nigeria found otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 visa. The consular officer sets the amount and tells you at the interview.
Can I pay the bond in advance to speed things up?
No, and you should not try. The embassy instructs applicants not to pay a bond before a consular officer tells them to, and not to use any third-party website.
Does interviewing in another country avoid the bond?
No. The notice says the requirement "applies regardless of place of application."
Can I still get a visa at Abuja?
Not routine visa services. Abuja ceased those on 1 August 2026. Lagos is not on the cease list and is still shown as providing consular services.
Which regional hub do Abuja applicants use?
The notice does not name it. It says "the appropriate designated regional hub" and tells applicants with scheduled interviews to monitor their email for specific guidance.
Is the bond the same as the application fee?
No. They are separate, and paying one does not reduce the other. The application fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome.
Official sources
- U.S. Mission Nigeria — Visas — the notices quoted above, read 14 September 2026
- Department of State fee schedule