On 5/1, the Associated Press reported that the US State Department recently added seven nations – Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan – to a list of countries whose citizens must post a visa bond. This new requirement became effective on 1/1.

This expands a previous list that included Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, where the bond requirement was implemented in August and October 2025.

With these additions, the US now requires a bond of up to $15,000 for visa applicants from a total of 13 countries, only two of which are outside Africa. This policy raises concerns among observers that a US visa will become financially inaccessible for many individuals.

Foreign citizens complete entry procedures at Dulles International Airport, Washington, on 29/6/2025. *AFP*

This bond requirement represents the latest measure in the Donald Trump administration's policy to tighten US entry conditions. Previous measures included mandating in-person interviews for visa applicants, requiring social media history spanning several years, and demanding detailed information about personal and family travel and residence.

US officials defend the visa bond policy, which ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, stating that the measure effectively ensures citizens from these countries do not overstay their visas.

Paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. However, the funds are refunded if an application is rejected or if the visa holder departs the US on time and complies with all conditions of stay.

President Trump had previously launched a similar pilot program in November 2020, during the final months of his first term. However, that program was not fully implemented due to the global travel downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Duc Trung (Based on reports from AP, CNN, Washington Post)