The United States Mission in Nigeria has declared that Nigerians are not included in the visa bond pilot programme, which was issued by President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday.

In a statement, the U.S. mission said the limited six-month visa bond pilot programme, beginning Dec. 24, affected 15 African countries, excluding Nigeria, according to The Nation.

The 15 African countries affected are Angola, Liberia, Libya, Burkina Faso, Congo, Djibouti, Burundi, Eritrea, Mauritania, Gambia, Susan, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Principe and Cape Verde.

The visa bond programme will require applicants for tourist and business visas from some African countries to pay up to $15,000 bond (country dependent) in addition to visa fees.

The U.S. mission said the new rule was put in place to address the high rate of Nonimmigrant overstay following visa expiration and/or completion of purpose in the U.S.

The statement reads: ''The Department and our embassies and consulates overseas conducted an in-depth analysis to identify and address root causes of overstays.

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“The State Department is considering additional steps to address overstays, including piloting a limited visa bonds program to test the operational feasibility of posting, processing, and discharging visa bonds as means to ensure the timely departure from the United States of certain travellers.

“This is in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).''

According to the mission, the U.S. is committed to combating visa overstays and making sure travellers to the United States respect laid down laws./

The U.S Mission added: “The implementation of this pilot builds on our engagement with foreign governments in recent years and will ensure continued progress to reduce overstay rates.''

The new policy will last six months – December 24, 2020, up to June 24, 2021.