US Extends Visa Bond Rule to More African Countries, Raising Entry Cost to Up to $15,000

The United States has expanded a visa policy that can require certain visitors to pay a refundable “visa bond” of up to $15,000 before their visa process can move forward. The latest expansion adds seven more countries to the list, five of which are in Africa, deepening concerns that the policy is making US travel more expensive for many Africans.

According to the US State Department’s update on its travel website, the newly affected countries are Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan. The change took effect on January 1, and it was published without a major public announcement.

What the Visa Bond Policy Means

Under the rule, visa applicants from the affected countries may be asked to pay a bond between $5,000 and $15,000. US officials say the bond is meant to discourage visa overstays and improve compliance with immigration rules.

The State Department’s position is that the bond is refundable if the visa is refused, or if the traveller follows the terms of the visa and leaves the United States when required. However, the bond does not guarantee approval. In other words, an applicant could still be denied after paying the bond requirement, which is one reason critics call the policy harsh.

More African Countries Now on the List

With the new additions, 13 countries are now listed under the visa bond requirement, and 11 of them are in Africa. That growing concentration has increased criticism that the policy is disproportionately targeting African travellers, even when their travel plans are legitimate.

The newly added countries join African nations that were reportedly placed on the list in August and October last year, including Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia.

Why Critics Say It Is Unfair

Critics argue that the biggest issue is affordability. In several of the affected African countries, the maximum $15,000 bond can be higher than the average annual income for many households. That makes the policy feel less like a compliance tool and more like an economic barrier.

For students, small business owners, tourists, and families travelling for genuine reasons, the bond can become a “paywall” that blocks access to education opportunities, business meetings, conferences, medical visits, and family events.

Even when the bond is refundable, the reality is that most people do not have that kind of cash available upfront, especially when they also have to pay normal visa fees, travel costs, and proof-of-funds requirements.

The Bond Is Only One Part of a Wider Tightening

The bond policy is happening alongside other visa requirements that increase the stress and cost of applying. These include mandatory in-person interviews, wider disclosure of social media history, and more detailed reporting of personal travel and residence records for applicants and, in some cases, their families.

Together, these steps increase both the administrative burden and the time pressure involved in applying for a US visa, particularly for people who live far from consulates or must pay for travel and accommodation just to attend an interview.