The Trump administration has significantly expanded its controversial visa bond program, adding seven new countries to a list requiring passport holders to post financial guarantees of up to $15,000 for U.S. visa applications. The newly designated nations—Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan—joined the program effective January 1, according to a State Department notice published on travel.state.gov.
This expansion brings the total to thirteen countries subject to these financial requirements, with eleven now being African nations. The bond amounts, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, create substantial financial barriers for many prospective visitors from these countries seeking entry to the United States.
Administration officials defend the bonding system as an effective mechanism to ensure compliance with visa terms and prevent overstays. However, the policy has drawn criticism for creating disproportionate hurdles for applicants from developing nations. The bond is refundable if visas are denied or if travelers comply with all visa conditions, but payment does not guarantee visa approval.
This move represents the latest in a series of immigration restrictions implemented by the Trump administration, which has also mandated in-person interviews for most visa applicants and required extensive disclosure of social media histories and detailed travel backgrounds for applicants and their family members.
The new countries join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, which were previously added to the bond requirement list during August and October of last year.