The administration of President Donald Trump has extended its visa bond policy to include seven additional countries, thereby increasing the number of nations whose citizens face financial guarantees up to $15,000 when seeking entry visas to the United States. This latest inclusion encompasses five African nations as well as Bhutan and Turkmenistan.
The total number of countries subject to these bond requirements is now thirteen, with the majority located in Africa. The expansion aims to make obtaining a US visa a notably more costly and complex process for applicants from these regions, potentially discouraging applications or imposing significant financial obstacles.
Last week, the US State Department quietly added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan to the bond list. The measure took effect as of January 1, 2024, as outlined in an official notice on the travel.state.gov website.
This move is the most recent in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to implement more stringent entry requirements for foreign nationals. Measures now include mandatory in-person interviews for visa applicants from all countries requiring visas, comprehensive disclosure of several years’ worth of social media history, detailed accounts of previous travel, and extensive information about living conditions of applicants and their families.
The financial assurances, or bonds, required from prospective travelers can range between $5,000 and $15,000, depending on the nationality and circumstances. US authorities have defended this approach, asserting that the bond system effectively ensures applicants adhere to the terms of their visas, particularly avoiding overstays beyond the permitted duration.
It is important to note that payment of a visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance. Instead, the bond functions as a security measure; if the visa application is denied or if the visa holder complies with all visa conditions, the bond amount is reimbursed.
The inclusion of the new countries supplements previous additions made last year, which incorporated Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia onto the bond-required list during August and October 2023.
Aspects of these policies have potential impacts on sectors sensitive to international movement, such as travel, tourism, international education, and foreign business engagements. The increased financial burden and enhanced vetting process could dampen visa applications from affected countries, thus influencing bilateral travel and commerce flows.