US to Introduce Cash-Bond Visa Program for Citizens of 30 African Countries

 The US State Department will permanently introduce a cash-bond program for nonimmigrant visa issuance for citizens of 50 countries, including 30 African nations, starting August 3, according to a notification from the American foreign ministry.

"An alien applying for a visa as a temporary visitor for business or tourism purposes under the B-1/B-2 category may be required to post a bond ('visa bond') to guarantee that they will maintain their nonimmigrant status and depart within the required time period," the document states.

Consular officers will be able to require applicants to post a cash bond of up to $20,000 as a condition for visa issuance.

The State Department explained that a pilot program in effect since August 2025 had demonstrated the effectiveness of this mechanism in controlling compliance with visa regulations. Based on the data received, authorities decided to make it permanent.

Compared to the pilot phase, the program's conditions have been revised. The minimum bond is now $5,000, and the maximum is $20,000. The amount will be determined by the consular officer on a case-by-case basis.

"The exact bond amount may be $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 depending on the applicant's circumstances, as determined by the consular officer, unless the bond requirement is waived," the text states.

The program applies to citizens of countries from which, according to US authorities, there is a high rate of overstays in the United States. Additionally, the bond requirement may apply if the applicant, in the consulate's view, has provided insufficient information about themselves.

Of the 50 countries subject to the new rules, 30 are in Africa. These include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mauritania, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, the Central African Republic, and Ethiopia.

The State Department noted that if the visa holder departs the United States in a timely manner, the bond is returned in full.

The rules will take effect on August 3 following publication in the US Federal Register. In addition to African countries, the program also applies to several nations in Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Russia is not on the list.

In January, Fox News, citing an internal departmental memo, reported that the State Department planned to suspend the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Russia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Somalia, starting January 21, due to a review of vetting procedures.