The United States government has expanded its visa‑bond program, adding seven new countries to the list of nations whose citizens must post a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for a U.S. visa. The newly included countries are Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan, bringing the total number of designated nations to 13, eleven of which are in Africa. The State Department announced the additions, which took effect on January 1.
The visa‑bond program is intended to strengthen immigration controls and reduce visa overstays. Citizens of the affected countries are required to pay a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 as a condition of their visa application. The bond is refunded if the visa is denied or if the visa holder complies with the terms of the visa.
In addition to the bond, applicants from these countries must undergo in‑person interviews and provide detailed information about their social‑media activity, travel history and living arrangements. The latest additions join six other countries—Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia—that were added to the program in August and October of last year.
U.S. officials defend the program, arguing that it is effective in preventing overstays and protecting national security. Critics, however, contend that the bond requirement makes it more difficult and expensive for citizens of the targeted nations to obtain U.S. visas. The impact of the expanded program on international travel and diplomacy remains uncertain and will likely be closely monitored by governments and travelers worldwide.
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