Keypoints:
- Up to $15k bond for B1/B2 visas
- Applies to Zambia and Malawi travellers
- Part of crackdown on visa overstays
TRAVELLERS from Zambia and Malawi applying for certain US tourist and business visas will soon have to post bonds of up to $15,000, the administration of President Donald Trump has announced.
The measure, set to take effect on August 20, 2025, will apply to eligible applicants for B1/B2 visas and is part of a six-month pilot programme aimed at curbing visa overstays.
Bond amounts and eligibility
According to a notice on the US State Department website, the bonds will be set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the outcome of the visa interview.
‘This targeted common-sense measure reinforces the administration’s commitment to US immigration law while deterring visa overstays,’ State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday.
The pilot allows consular officers worldwide to impose the bonds on travellers from countries with high overstay rates. Until now, a similar notice published in the Federal Register on Monday had not named the countries involved.
Criteria for inclusion
A State Department spokesperson, speaking anonymously, said countries would be chosen based on high overstay rates, deficiencies in screening and vetting, concerns over citizenship-by-investment schemes without residency requirements, and broader foreign policy considerations.
The list of countries will be reviewed and updated periodically, the spokesperson added.
Applicants who comply with the terms of their visas and depart the US within the permitted period will have their bonds refunded in full.
Part of a broader immigration crackdown
The visa bond policy comes amid a wider push by President Trump to tighten immigration controls. Earlier this year, he issued a travel ban in June that fully or partially blocked citizens from 19 countries from entering the US on national security grounds.
In fiscal year 2023, US Customs and Border Protection data showed that several African countries — including Burundi, Djibouti and Togo — recorded high visa overstay rates.
Strict entry and exit rules
Travellers subject to the bond requirement will have to enter and leave the US through only three designated airports: Boston Logan International, New York’s John F. Kennedy International, and Washington Dulles International.
The State Department warned that arrivals or departures via other ports could lead to denial of entry or improper registration of departure.
The pilot programme will be closely monitored, with potential expansion or modification based on its effectiveness in deterring visa overstays.
