According to the Associated Press, the US Department of State has expanded its visa bond requirement to include more countries. Under earlier measures, several African nations — including Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia — were placed under this condition last year.
Now, Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan have also been added to the list. The new requirement has come into effect from January 1. Further details are available on the official website.
US officials say the bond requirement is intended to ensure that citizens of specific countries do not overstay their visas or remain in the United States illegally after their visa expires. However, authorities have clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. If a visa application is rejected, or if the visa holder fully complies with visa conditions, the bond amount is refunded.
This latest step is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten the US visa process. The measures include mandatory in-person interviews, disclosure of social media history, and detailed information about previous travel and residence history for all visa applicants.
Experts warn that these changes could make obtaining a US visa more expensive and difficult for citizens of affected countries, potentially impacting international travel, education, and business relations.
