Malawi and Zambia First to Pay $15,000 Visa Bonds Under Trump's Pilot Program.

The US government will require Malawi and Zambia citizens to pay up to $15,000 as a visa bond to enter the US on business or tourist visas as part of a one-year pilot. The measure aims to cut down visa overstays, which are considered a national security threat. The bond will be refunded if the traveller follows all visa rules, but will be forfeited if they overstay.

The US government has announced a new visa bond pilot program that will require citizens of Malawi and Zambia to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition for obtaining a B-1/B-2 visa. The program, set to commence on August 20, 2025, aims to address the issue of visa overstays, which are considered a national security threat [1].

Under the pilot program, visa applicants from the designated countries will be required to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the discretion of the consular officer. The bond amount will be refunded if the applicant complies with all visa terms and departs the US within the authorized stay period [2].

The visa bond program is expected to last for one year, from August 20, 2025, to August 5, 2026. During this period, the US State Department will evaluate the effectiveness of the program and use the data collected to inform future visa policies [2].

The bond will be refunded if the visa holder adheres to all visa conditions and departs the US before the expiration of their authorized stay. If the visa holder overstays, the bond will be forfeited [2].

The pilot program is part of the broader effort by the US government to enhance security and manage immigration more effectively. The program targets countries with high overstay rates, deficient vetting and screening processes, or that offer citizenship by investment without a residency requirement [2].

Visa applicants from the affected countries will follow the standard application process, but will be required to pay the bond if deemed eligible for the B-1/B-2 visa. The bond can be paid online via the Department of Treasury’s payment portal [2].

The US government has identified Boston Logan International Airport, New York JFK International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport as the designated ports of entry for visa holders under the pilot program [2].

The pilot program will initially apply to Malawi and Zambia, but the list of countries may be updated in the future based on overstay rates and other criteria [2].

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-requires-zambia-malawi-citizens-pay-up-15000-bond-some-visitor-visas-2025-08-05/
[2] https://www.fragomen.com/insights/united-states-state-department-launching-visa-bond-pilot-program-for-certain-b-1b-2-visa-applicants.html