US Expands Visa Bond Rule To More African Countries

More African countries are set to face tighter US visa restrictions after Washington expanded a bond requirement to at least 12 additional nations, piling pressure on a region already grappling with economic headwinds.

Under the revised rules, travellers from the newly listed countries will be required to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 when applying for short-term US visas, with the money refundable only if they comply with the terms of their stay.

The move broadens a pilot programme introduced earlier that had already targeted dozens of countries, many of them in Africa, bringing the total number affected to about 50.

Countries previously placed under the bond regime include Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in a rollout that has disproportionately affected African travellers. The new additions include Mauritius and Ethiopia.

The latest additions are expected to deepen concerns among African governments and businesses, with analysts warning that the high upfront costs could deter travel for trade, education and tourism.

Many African economies are already contending with high debt levels, currency volatility and weak growth, making it difficult for citizens to raise the required deposits, which in some cases exceed annual incomes.

Travel industry players say the restrictions could hurt small businesses that rely on short-term trips to secure contracts, while also limiting academic exchanges and diaspora ties.

The expansion forms part of a wider immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, who has moved to tighten entry into the United States since taking office.

His administration has rolled out a series of measures, including stricter visa vetting, limits on refugee admissions and expanded deportation efforts, aimed at curbing illegal immigration and visa overstays.

US officials say the bond system is designed to ensure compliance with visa rules and reduce the number of visitors who remain in the country beyond their permitted stay.

However, critics argue the policy risks straining ties with African nations and could trigger reciprocal measures, as governments weigh responses to what they see as increasingly restrictive travel policies.

The visa curbs threaten to reshape mobility between Africa and the United States, particularly at a time when many economies on the continent are seeking to deepen trade and investment links abroad.

ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org