In a significant move impacting international travel, the United States has expanded its stringent visa requirements, making entry more challenging and costly for visitors from several nations. The Trump administration has broadened a rule that mandates select visa applicants to post a substantial financial bond, adding seven new countries to the existing roster.
New Countries Face Steep Visa Bond Requirement
The changes, which were implemented without a formal announcement and reflected in a notice on the U.S. State Department's travel website, officially took effect on January 1. With this latest expansion, the total number of countries under this specific regulation has climbed to 13. Notably, a majority—11 of these nations—are located in Africa.
The seven countries newly added by the U.S. State Department are:
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Central African Republic
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Namibia
- Turkmenistan
These nations join a list that already included Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, which were added in August and October of last year.
High Costs and No Guarantee of Visa Approval
The policy has sparked concerns that the financial burden of applying for a U.S. visa is becoming prohibitive for many. Under this rule, consular officers can demand applicants from the listed countries to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. U.S. officials defend the measure, stating it is intended to discourage visa overstays and ensure compliance with immigration laws.
However, a critical point of contention is that paying the bond does not guarantee visa issuance. The amount is refundable if the visa application is denied or once the traveler demonstrates they have adhered to all the terms of their visa and departed the U.S. on time.
Part of a Broader Trend of Tighter US Immigration Rules
This bond requirement is not an isolated action but forms a key part of a wider crackdown on U.S. entry rules under the outgoing Trump administration. Recent months have seen a series of stricter measures, including:
- Mandatory in-person interviews for visa applicants from all countries requiring visas.
- Expanded demands for disclosure of applicants' social media histories.
- Requests for detailed records of travel histories for both applicants and their family members.
The cumulative effect of these policies represents a substantial shift towards more rigorous vetting, potentially altering the landscape of travel to the United States for citizens of the affected countries for the foreseeable future.
