African Passport Holders From Select Countries Face New U.S. Visa Bond Fees

Passport holders from 13 countries, nearly all of them in Africa, are now required to post costly “visa bonds” of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the U.S. under a new Trump administration policy.

According to The Independent, the State Department quietly expanded the list last week, adding seven countries effective January 1, including Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan. Of those, five are African nations. Turkmenistan and Bhutan are the only non-African countries newly added.

The visa bonds, which range from $5,000 to $15,000, are required for applicants who are otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visitor visas. According to officials, the policy is designed to prevent visa overstays, though payment of the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be approved.

The State Department said the bond would be refunded if a visa is denied or once a visa holder proves compliance with the terms of their stay.

Countries already subject to the requirement include Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, which were added in August and October 2025.

Applicants must submit the Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the federal Pay.gov system. The amount of the bond is determined during the visa interview and applies regardless of where the application is submitted.

The policy is part of a broader tightening of U.S. entry requirements under the Trump administration. Visa applicants are also required to undergo in-person interviews, disclose years of social media activity, and provide detailed histories of their travel and living arrangements.

Visa holders subject to the bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry, including Boston Logan International Airport, New York’s JFK Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Failure to comply could result in denied entry or an improperly recorded departure.

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