REGULATORY · MARKET STRUCTURE · AFRICA
US adds 12 countries to visa-bond requirement
Change
On March 18, 2026, the US Department of State added 12 countries to a program requiring visa applicants from those countries to post bonds of up to $15,000.
Why it matters
The Department of State added 12 countries to the visa bond program. The program requires visa applicants from those countries to post bonds as high as $15,000. The expansion raises the total number of nations subject to the requirement to 50. Most of the newly added countries are African nations, and the administration defended the program as reducing visa overstays while critics say the bonds discriminate against low-income travellers.
Implications
- · Applicants from the 12 added countries must post bonds as a condition of visa processing.
- · US consular and visa-processing posts for the affected nationalities must collect and verify bond payments.
- · The expansion increases the number of countries covered by bond enforcement to 50.
Who is affected
- · Visa applicants from the 12 added countries
- · US consular and visa-processing officers
- · Immigration and border enforcement officials
Source
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