US Expands Visa Bond Pilot Across Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and More

(MALAWI) The United States has widened a controversial visa-bond pilot program that now targets travelers seeking B-1/B-2 visas from seven African countries, after first taking effect for Malawi and Zambia in August 2025 and later expanding to The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Tanzania. The scheme, announced by the U.S. Department of State on 5 August 2025 and set to run for roughly twelve months, forces certain applicants to post refundable cash bonds of between $5,000 and $15,000 as a condition for the issuance of short-term visitor visas.

How the pilot works

Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates decide, during the visa interview, whether a bond is required for a particular applicant. If a bond is required, the officer sets the amount at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.

The stated purpose of the bond is to create a financial incentive for visitors to depart the United States on time rather than overstaying. Officials emphasize that paying the bond does not guarantee a visa will be granted.

Travel limits and entry restrictions

Nationals of the affected countries who are placed under the visa-bond pilot and who are approved for B-1/B-2 visas must follow tight travel rules:

• Visas issued under the program are usually single-entry only.
• Visas must be used within three months of being printed in the passport.
• Visitor stays are often limited to about 30 days.

In a further restriction, travelers who have posted bonds are allowed to enter and exit the United States only through three designated international airports:

• Boston Logan (BOS)
• New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)

Airlines that carry bond-subject passengers to any other U.S. port of entry — without exceptional circumstances (e.g., safety diversions) — can face fines. This rule increases pressure on both carriers and travelers to strictly follow the specified routing.

Payment process and required forms

Approved applicants who must post a bond are required to:

1. Complete the DHS Form I-352 (an immigration bond agreement). The form is available at: https://www.dhs.gov/forms
2. Submit the bond amount through the U.S. Treasury’s secure Pay.gov portal.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Department of Homeland Security requires applicants to use official payment channels only, warning that money sent through middlemen or unapproved online platforms will not count toward the bond and will not be refunded.

Financial and practical impacts

Critics in Malawi and other African countries argue the bond requirement functions as a financial wall for ordinary visitors who already face:

• Visa application fees
• High flight costs
• Strict documentation demands

A Blantyre-based business owner who regularly attends trade fairs in the United States said the new system could force him to reconsider future trips. He said:

“A $15,000 bond is more than the total cost of many shipments I send to America. Even if the money comes back after I return, it’s locked away for weeks or months, and that’s money I need to keep my business moving.”

Employers and global mobility teams must now factor bonds into budgets and travel plans, particularly where staff or contractors may need several short trips within a year. Important operational consequences include:

• Single-entry visas mean each trip may require a new visa and therefore a new bond.
• Travel planners must account for the three-month visa validity window and potential delays that could invalidate the visa before travel begins.

Risks, refunds, and evidence

One of the most sensitive aspects of the program is the risk of forfeiting the full bond if the traveler overstays even briefly or violates visa terms (for example, working without authorization).

The State Department has stated that the bond will be fully refunded once the traveler proves timely departure, but officials have not provided detailed public guidance on:

• Typical timeframes for refunds
• The exact evidence required beyond routine travel records

Some immigration lawyers recommend visitors keep organized proof to support refund claims, such as:

• Copies of boarding passes
• Entry and exit stamps
• Flight confirmations

Policy context and debate

U.S. officials say the pilot responds to high overstay rates among certain traveler categories and aligns with Executive Order 14159, “Protecting The American People Against Invasion,” which calls for closer cooperation among the Treasury, State, and Homeland Security departments on bond administration.

Arguments for and against the pilot include:

• Supporters: Tying entry to a refundable payment rather than outright refusal keeps business and family links open while placing cost of risk on those most likely to breach rules.
• Opponents: The measure unfairly targets African travelers while leaving other regions with similar or higher overstay rates untouched, and may damage diplomatic ties.

Timeline, review, and stakeholder input

• The pilot is scheduled to run until around 5 August 2026.
• Stakeholders have until the end of 2025 to send formal comments and data to the U.S. government on the pilot’s effects on travel, trade, and tourism.
• Officials will review submitted feedback alongside overstay statistics before deciding whether to:
  • End the initiative,
  • Extend it, or
  • Incorporate it into a broader “fee-for-compliance” model that could influence future visitor policy.

Current practice and guidance availability

For now, consular posts in Malawi and the other listed countries continue to process regular visa applications alongside bond cases. Officers retain wide discretion in deciding who must post a bond.

Travelers can find general information on visitor visas on the State Department’s official travel website: https://travel.state.gov.

However, detailed instructions specific to this pilot remain limited. Many applicants rely on brief embassy notices, local travel agents, or word-of-mouth reports from friends who have experienced the new process. Improved official guidance would likely reduce current confusion and help travelers and organizations plan more effectively.