The United States has widened a controversial immigration policy that requires certain visa applicants to post a financial bond of up to $15,000, adding seven more countries to the list, five of them in Africa.
The expansion has raised fresh concerns about affordability and access for African travellers at a time when global mobility remains uneven.
According to the US State Department, the newly affected countries are Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan.
The update took effect on January 1 and was announced through a notice published on the official travel.state.gov website, without a formal public statement.
With these additions, 13 countries are now subject to the visa bond requirement, 11 of which are in Africa. For applicants from these countries, the policy introduces a major upfront financial obligation before a visa application can be fully considered.
Under the rule, visa applicants may be required to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. US authorities say the measure is intended to discourage visa overstays and improve compliance with immigration laws.
The State Department has argued that the bond is refundable if a visa is refused or if the traveller fully complies with the terms of their visa.
However, the US government has also clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval, and critics say the requirement alone places US travel far beyond the reach of many potential visitors.
As stated by US authorities, “Paying visa bond guarantee approval, and no refund,” a position that has fueled confusion and concern among applicants.
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In several of the affected African countries, the maximum bond amount is higher than the average annual income, effectively shutting out students, entrepreneurs, tourists, and families with legitimate reasons to travel.
According to Business Insider Africa, the newly added countries join African nations such as Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, which were placed under the policy in August and October last year. The growing number of African countries on the list has intensified criticism that the policy disproportionately affects the continent.
Beyond the bond requirement, the Trump administration has rolled out additional measures that increase the administrative burden on visa applicants.
These include mandatory in-person interviews, extended disclosure of social media history, and detailed reporting of applicants’ and their families’ travel and residence records. Together, these steps have increased both the cost and complexity of applying for a US visa.
US officials have defended the approach as a necessary security measure. The State Department has said the policy is designed to ensure compliance and reduce the risk of overstays, noting that exemptions remain for certain categories of travellers.
These include lawful permanent residents, some existing visa holders, diplomats, and athletes travelling for major international sporting events. Officials also say waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis when travel is considered to be in the national interest.
Despite these assurances, immigration advocates warn that the expanding visa bond list signals a broader shift toward restrictive immigration practices that affect developing countries most severely, particularly in Africa.
Analysts say the policy could have long-term consequences for educational exchange, business ties, tourism flows, and diplomatic relations between the United States and African nations if the trend continues.
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