The Trump administration has expanded its visa bond policy to include seven additional countries—Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan—effective January 1, according to a notice on the State Department’s travel website. Five of the newly added countries are in AFRICA. With this update, 13 countries are now subject to the requirement for visa applicants to post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, a measure critics say places U.S. visas beyond the financial reach of many applicants, particularly in Africa.
The policy forms part of a broader tightening of U.S. entry rules under the Trump administration, including mandatory in-person visa interviews, extensive disclosure of social media histories, and detailed travel and residence records for applicants and their FAMILIES. U.S. officials argue that the bond system helps deter visa overstays. Payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval, but funds are refunded if a visa is denied or once the applicant proves compliance with visa conditions.
The latest additions join Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October last year.