The administration of President Donald Trump will soon require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas.
- The policy introduces a visa bond requirement for applicants from Zambia and Malawi for specific visa categories.
- Bonds range from $5,000 to $15,000, determined during the visa interview, and must be paid through an official platform.
- Compliance with visa terms will result in a refund of the bond amount; non-compliance may impact future travel eligibility.
The administration of President Donald Trump will soon require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas, the U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday. The policy will take effect in two weeks as part of a new pilot program.
“Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national travelling 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 the time of visa interview,” according to the State Department website.
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Applicants will be required to complete Department of Homeland Security Form I-352, agreeing to the bond conditions, and submit the payment through the Department of the Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov. This requirement applies universally, regardless of where the visa application is filed.
The State Department emphasised that paying a bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If any individual pays fees without being directed to do so by a consular officer, that money will not be returned.
However, the bond amount will be refunded to the applicant provided they depart the United States within the authorised period of stay and fully comply with all conditions of their visa status.
Required ports of entry
As a condition of the bond, all visa holders who have posted a visa bond are required to enter and exit the United States through one of the designated ports of entry listed below:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
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Failure to comply may result in denial of entry upon arrival or improper documentation of departure, which could impact future immigration benefits.
Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders aimed at dismantling humanitarian protections for migrants from certain countries already living in the United States.
Trump has also enacted sweeping travel bans on citizens from 12 countries, the majority of them in Africa, while placing partial entry restrictions on nationals from seven additional countries.
