WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's administration will first require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi, two African countries, to pay bonds of up to $15, 000 for some tourist and business visas, the State Department said.
"Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of 5, 000, 10, 000, or $15, 000, determined at time of visa interview, " the State Department said on Tuesday, in a notice on its website.
This requirement is part of a pilot program scheduled to begin August 20 and last until August 5, 2026. It will apply to nationals from certain foreign countries applying for B-1 or B-2 visas for business or tourist travel to the United States. These visas usually allow for a maximum stay of six months, though extensions are permitted in some cases, Xinhua news agency reported.
A State Department spokesperson on Monday said countries would be identified based on "high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations."
The list of countries may be amended throughout the program, according to the notice.