US Introduces $15K Visa Bond Pilot for Visitors from Malawi & Zambia
The United States has initiated a contentious 12-month pilot program, demanding visitors from Malawi and Zambia to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 for business and tourist visas, effective from August 20, 2025. The State Department has proclaimed that travelers from these two African nations are now required to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a safeguard against visa overstays.
This program is primarily aimed at countries with historically high visa overstay rates. It mandates travelers to enter and exit exclusively through three U.S. airports: Boston Logan, JFK in New York, and Washington Dulles. Critics have lambasted the scheme as a “legalized shakedown” that puts travel to the U.S. further beyond the reach of residents of less affluent countries. However, the bonds are refundable provided visitors adhere to their visa terms and depart punctually.
This pilot program is a component of wider immigration tightening measures, which also include a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for most nonimmigrant visa applicants. The bond requirement list may be extended to include more countries throughout the pilot period, which is scheduled to run until August 5, 2026.
Source: The Washington Post