Wayne Lumbasi
The United States has expanded its visa enforcement measures, introducing rules that may require visitors from several countries to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before being issued short-term visas. The policy applies to applicants seeking B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas and is part of a broader effort by U.S. authorities to curb visa overstays.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the bond serves as a financial guarantee that travelers will comply with the terms of their visas and depart the United States on time. Officials have emphasized that payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval, and applicants are advised to make payments only when explicitly instructed by a U.S. consular officer. Any payments made without such direction will not be refunded.
Africa is the most affected region under the expanded rules. The State Department has listed 24 African countries whose nationals may be subject to the bond requirement. These are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
For most of the listed countries, the bond requirement is expected to take effect on January 21, 2026, although some were included earlier as part of the program’s phased rollout.
Under the system, consular officers may set bond amounts at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on individual risk assessments. The bond is refundable if the traveler leaves the United States before the authorized stay expires, does not use the visa before it expires, or is denied entry at a U.S. port of entry. In certain cases, travelers subject to the bond may also be required to enter the United States through designated airports to aid monitoring.
U.S. officials say the affected countries were identified based on visa overstay patterns and screening considerations, describing the policy as a compliance tool rather than a travel ban. However, the measure has drawn criticism, with concerns that the high bond amounts could place U.S. travel beyond the reach of many legitimate tourists, business travelers, and families.
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