Keypoints:
- Thirty African countries remain covered
- Bonds now range from $10,000 to $20,000
- Pilot visa issuance fell by 83 percent
THE US State Department has made its visa bond programme permanent, requiring eligible B-1 and B-2 applicants from 50 designated countries, including 30 in Africa, to post refundable deposits of between $10,000 and $20,000 before a visa can be issued.
The State Department’s final visa bond rule took effect on August 3, replacing the 12-month pilot launched in August 2025 and raising the maximum bond from $15,000. For African travellers, the change creates a much higher cash barrier for business, tourism and family visits to the United States.
How the permanent programme works
Consular officers may set bonds at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 after assessing an applicant’s circumstances. The State Department expects $15,000 to be the normal amount.
An officer may reduce the bond to $10,000 when an applicant cannot afford the standard level but can still finance the journey. A $20,000 bond may apply when the officer considers a higher amount necessary to provide sufficient assurance of compliance and timely departure.
Applicants must wait for instructions before paying through the US Treasury’s authorised electronic platform. Payment must be made in full and in US dollars. Posting a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
The bond deposit is returned when the bond is cancelled after the traveller substantially complies with its conditions, including timely departure. A substantial breach, such as overstaying, can lead to forfeiture.
Thirty African countries covered
The current State Department country list includes Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Lesotho.
Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are also covered.
Countries already subject to the pilot remain covered under the permanent rule. Washington may revise the list on a rolling basis as overstay, screening, identity-verification, information-sharing and document-security conditions change. New country designations require at least 15 days’ notice.
The permanent scheme extends the policy examined in Africa Briefing’s earlier report on the $15,000 visa bond and its analysis of rising travel costs for African businesses.
Pilot reduced overstays and visa access
The State Department said the 50 countries recorded 45,488 overstays in the 2024 financial year. Fewer than 50 were recorded during the pilot’s first 10 months.
Visa issuance from the designated countries also fell by 83 percent compared with the equivalent period a year earlier. The department said some applicants appeared to withdraw by declining to post the required bond.
The figures suggest the programme produced stronger compliance among people who travelled, but also sharply restricted the number able or willing to complete the visa process.
What it means for African travellers
For entrepreneurs, professionals and families, the main pressure is access to cash. A refundable bond can still be prohibitive when applicants must also meet visa fees, air fares, accommodation costs and foreign-exchange charges.
The financial pressure has intensified since the State Department realigned routine visa services across Africa to 20 regional hubs from August 1. Applicants affected by the change must now schedule appointments and pay the required fees at designated hubs, potentially adding cross-border travel and accommodation costs.
The shift follows Africa Briefing’s earlier reporting on the regional visa hub plan.
The rule permits limited waivers where the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs determines that an exemption would not be contrary to the US national interest. Consular officers may recommend waivers where travel would advance a significant national or humanitarian interest, but applicants cannot apply separately for one.
Otherwise eligible applicants who are not granted a waiver must post the required bond before their visas can be issued or forgo the application.
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