Washington, United States — The U. S. State Department has quietly added Malawi and Zambia to a one-year pilot programme that can require some short-term visitors to post a refundable bond of up to US $15 000 before receiving a B-1/B-2 visa, according to a departmental notice released in late December.
Official statements indicate the two African states were chosen because their nationals posted visitor — visa over-stay rates above the 10 % threshold set by the 2020 pilot rule. Consular officers may now demand a US $5 000, US $10 000 or US $15 000 bond, returnable only if the traveller leaves the United States on time.
The measure took effect on 2 January and will be reviewed after 12 months.
Local sources in Lilongwe and Lusaka report that travellers scheduled for visa interviews this week were handed printed notices explaining the bond option, but no additional African countries have been formally listed. Social-media posts claiming that five more states face the same requirement could not be independently verified; the Department’s public docket contains no expansion order dated within the past seven days.
Regional officials confirmed that a separate US $250 “visa-integrity fee” for most non-immigrant categories is still scheduled to begin on 1 October 2025, but that surcharge is unrelated to the bond pilot.
Independent observers say the bond revival resurrects a Trump — administration proposal that was suspended in 2021, and they note that the list of affected countries has historically been weighted toward the Global South.
The government stated in a communiqué that the pilot is intended to “encourage timely departure” and will be assessed “strictly on compliance data. ” Officials have not indicated whether other countries will be added during the year-long test.
Travellers who forgo the bond remain free to re — apply, but consular officers are not obligated to grant a visa.
Further details, including the number of bonds posted so far, were not immediately available.
The Department said it will publish a summary after the pilot ends.
Source: U. S. Department of State travel notice, Boundless immigration blog, VisasNews.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
