Zambia, Malawi citizens to pay up to Sh1.9 million visa bond to enter US
Zambia and Malawi have become the first countries whose citizens will be required to pay a visa bond of up to $15,000 (Sh1.9 million) when applying to travel to the United States on tourist or business visas.
The announcement, made by the US Department of State, marks the beginning of a new pilot programme aimed at deterring visa overstays.
The bond scheme, set to take effect on August 20, requires applicants from the two southern African nations to deposit between $5,000 (Sh644,424) and $15,000 (Sh1.9 million) at the time of their visa interview.
The amount will be refunded if the traveller departs the US on time, if the visa is cancelled or denied, or if travel plans are abandoned.
However, those who remain in the country beyond the duration of their visa, or apply for asylum or other immigration relief, will forfeit the entire sum.
"Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined at time of visa interview," the State Department said in a notice on its website.
Only citizens of countries participating in the US visa waiver programme are exempt from the bond requirement, with more nations expected to be added to the list as the programme expands.
"This targeted, common-sense measure reinforces the administration's commitment to US immigration law while deterring visa overstays," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security's most recent visa overstay report, both Zambia and Malawi had relatively high rates of overstays. In the fiscal year 2023, Malawi posted a 14.3 per cent overstay rate among 1,655 visitors, while Zambia recorded an 11.1 per cent overstay rate among 3,493 arrivals.
In contrast, larger countries such as Brazil and Colombia registered tens of thousands of overstays, 20,811 and 40,884, respectively, though they are not yet subject to the bond requirement.
The visa bond initiative is part of a 12-month trial under the President Donald Trump administration's renewed immigration enforcement agenda. Since returning to the office in January for a second term, Trump has intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration.
Though the measure is officially framed as a deterrent to visa abuse, critics argue it unfairly targets smaller and less wealthy nations.
The announcement, made by the US Department of State, marks the beginning of a new pilot programme aimed at deterring visa overstays.
The bond scheme, set to take effect on August 20, requires applicants from the two southern African nations to deposit between $5,000 (Sh644,424) and $15,000 (Sh1.9 million) at the time of their visa interview.
The amount will be refunded if the traveller departs the US on time, if the visa is cancelled or denied, or if travel plans are abandoned.
However, those who remain in the country beyond the duration of their visa, or apply for asylum or other immigration relief, will forfeit the entire sum.
"Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined at time of visa interview," the State Department said in a notice on its website.
Only citizens of countries participating in the US visa waiver programme are exempt from the bond requirement, with more nations expected to be added to the list as the programme expands.
"This targeted, common-sense measure reinforces the administration's commitment to US immigration law while deterring visa overstays," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security's most recent visa overstay report, both Zambia and Malawi had relatively high rates of overstays. In the fiscal year 2023, Malawi posted a 14.3 per cent overstay rate among 1,655 visitors, while Zambia recorded an 11.1 per cent overstay rate among 3,493 arrivals.
In contrast, larger countries such as Brazil and Colombia registered tens of thousands of overstays, 20,811 and 40,884, respectively, though they are not yet subject to the bond requirement.
The visa bond initiative is part of a 12-month trial under the President Donald Trump administration's renewed immigration enforcement agenda. Since returning to the office in January for a second term, Trump has intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration.
Though the measure is officially framed as a deterrent to visa abuse, critics argue it unfairly targets smaller and less wealthy nations.
Zambia
malawi
President Donald Trump
illegal immigration
US visa
US Department of Homeland Security
visa bond
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