Zim Now Writer
The United States will soon require certain visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay a refundable bond of up to US$15,000 before entering the country under a pilot initiative aimed at curbing visa overstays.
The program, announced by the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, will take effect on August 20, 2025, and applies to applicants for B1/B2 visitor visas — commonly used for tourism and business.
According to a notice on the State Department website, eligible travelers will be asked to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on a decision made during their visa interview. The bond is meant to serve as a financial incentive to leave the U.S. before their visa expires. If travelers comply with all visa rules, the full bond will be refunded upon their departure.
The initiative gives U.S. consular officers discretion to impose bonds based on factors such as high visa overstay rates, weak screening systems in the applicant’s country, and concerns over citizenship acquisition schemes that do not require actual residence.
While Zambia and Malawi are the first two countries named in the rollout, the State Department said the list may be updated over time. Several other African nations, such as Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, have also previously been flagged for high visa overstay rates, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from fiscal year 2023.
To further tighten monitoring, visa bond holders must travel in and out of the U.S. only through Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York), or Washington Dulles International Airport.
Travelers using any other port of entry could be denied admission or face complications with bond reimbursement.
This new measure is in line with former President Donald Trump’s continued efforts to reduce illegal immigration. In June 2025, his administration implemented a separate travel ban affecting citizens of 19 countries, citing national security risks.
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