US Visa Costs May Exceed $15,000 Under New Rules that Will Hit African Travellers

African travellers seeking to visit the United States could be required to pay more than $15,000 under a new set of US immigration proposals, including a steep bond payment of up to $15,000, a $250 integrity fee, and a $180 visa fee.

The US State Department is proposing a pilot programme that would require some applicants for business and tourist visas to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.

The move, which targets travellers from countries with high visa overstay rates and poor internal security controls, is seen as the latest effort by the US to tighten entry into the country.

If implemented, the total upfront cost for a single visa application could reach $15,430, a burden critics say would shut out many low- and middle-income travellers, particularly from African nations.

The bond proposal comes just days after the US introduced a new “integrity fee” of $250, which must be paid alongside the standard $180 non-immigrant visa application fee.

The fee is aimed at offsetting fraud detection and processing costs.

The State Department said the 12-month pilot scheme, to be published in the Federal Register, would help assess the effectiveness of bonds in curbing overstays.

It did not name specific countries, but the measures are likely to impact African nations such as Nigeria, Chad and Eritrea, which have in the past been flagged for high overstay rates.

The proposed measures echo immigration policies introduced during the administration of President Donald Trump, including travel bans targeting African and Muslim-majority countries, and a reduction in refugee admissions.

While the Biden administration reversed many Trump-era restrictions, critics say the new fees and bond requirements reflect a lingering hardline approach to immigration, even as US universities and businesses continue to court talent and investment from Africa.

The proposals have drawn criticism from immigration advocates, who warn they could deepen global inequality and tarnish America’s image as an open destination for education, tourism and business.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org