US EditionUS Demands up to $15,000 Visa Bond for Tourists and Business Travelers From Zambia and Malawi | News Channel 3-12
UNITED STATES, AUG 6 – The US State Department requires visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia to post refundable bonds up to $15,000 to reduce overstays in a 12-month pilot program starting August 2025.
- The US State Department announced a 12-month visa bond pilot on Monday requiring Trinidad and Tobago visa applicants to pay a $250 fee, starting soon.
- Amid figures showing 14.3 and 11.1 overstay rates for Malawi and Zambia, the 2023 DHS report indicates the idea to impose bonds on high-overstay countries announced earlier this week.
- During visa interviews, consular officers will determine bond amounts between $5,000 and $15,000, refunding them if visitors comply with visa terms.
- In response, Zambia Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said his government is engaging counterparts to understand implications, while CAIR called the scheme "discriminatory" and Tammy Bruce defended it as "reinforcing immigration laws."
- The pilot will run through August 5, 2026, and more countries beyond Malawi and Zambia are expected to be added over coming months, according to the State Department.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Malawi and Zambia tourists among first to face $15,000 US visa bonds
The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a move that may make the process unaffordable for many.
US to Require up to $15,000 in Bonds for Tourist Visas
The US State Department announced Wednesday that travelers from certain countries will be required to post bonds to apply for B2/B1 Visas. Credit: AIR FORCE ONE / CC BY 2.0 via Flickr The US State Department announced Wednesday that travelers from certain countries will be required to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. The 12-month pilot program, effective Aug. 20, targets nationals of co…
US demands up to $15,000 visa bond for tourists and business travelers from Zambia and Malawi
Tourists and business travelers from Zambia and Malawi must pay a deposit of up to $15,000 when seeking a US visa, the State Department has announced, in a move likened to a visa ban for the African nations, which rank among the world’s poorest.
US announces new visa bonds for travelers from Zambia, Malawi
US visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia will need to pay bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a new pilot program. The new rules will apply from Aug. 20, the US State Department said in a notice on its website, as part of a move to discourage visa overstays: The bond amount will be returned once the applicant leaves the country as per the terms of their visa. Immigration has been a key target of US President Donald …
On Voice News news, journalist Karina Yapor interviewed immigration lawyer Haim Vásquez about the pilot plan for visa-seekers' bail, as well as about the reasons that led President Donald Trump's administration to take such a step, which will initially be applied to tourists from Zambia and Malawi, but could include other nations in the future.Read more]]>
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