The Trump administration has announced a new visa policy requiring citizens of Malawi and Zambia to pay bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for B-1 or B-2 visitor visas to the United States.
The 12-month pilot program, set to begin 20 August 2025, is aimed at curbing visa overstays and enhancing vetting processes. Applicants from these two African nations will be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined during their visa interview. Payment must be made through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform, and the bond will only be refunded if the traveler fully complies with their visa terms and departs the U.S. on time. The U.S. State Department says the program targets countries with high visa overstay rates or inadequate travel screening.
The data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2023 showed overstay rates of 14% for Malawi and 11% for Zambia — lower than countries like Haiti and Myanmar, prompting questions about the program’s selection criteria. Visa holders under the program must enter and exit the U.S. through designated airports, including JFK, Dulles, and Boston Logan. The bond does not guarantee visa approval, and unsolicited payments will not be refunded. Critics view the move as part of Trump’s broader effort to tighten immigration and limit mobility from African nations.