The United States has officially implemented a permanent visa bond programme targeting travellers from 50 countries, including 30 African nations. This new rule affects applicants seeking B1 business and B2 tourist visas.
Financial Guarantee Requirement
Applicants from the affected countries may be required to pay a refundable bond ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 before their visa is approved. The lower $5,000 bond tier, which was part of the pilot programme in 2025, has been eliminated. The bond is fully refundable as long as the traveller complies with visa conditions and departs the US before the visa expires. Failure to comply results in forfeiture of the bond.
Affected African Countries
According to reports, the 30 African countries subject to this requirement include:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Programme Background and Implementation
The bond scheme originated from a 2025 pilot by the US State Department, which found that financial guarantees improved compliance among visitors prone to overstaying. While not every applicant from the listed countries will be required to pay the bond, consular officers have discretion to impose the requirement on individuals deemed higher risk.
This move reflects a stricter US approach to visa compliance by embedding financial accountability into the application process for nationals from countries with higher overstay rates.
