Ksh1.9 Million for US Visa
Soon, Ugandans, Tanzanians, and people from over 40 other countries will need to post a visa bond of up to $15,000 (around Ksh1.9 million) before they can get a tourist or business visa for the United States.
The US Department of State has announced that this new requirement is aimed at B1/B2 visa applicants from countries considered high-risk for overstays and immigration violations. The rollout will happen in phases, starting from August 2025 and continuing through January 2026.
According to the US Department of State, individuals from these countries will only receive their visa after they post a bond, the amount of which will be determined during their interview.
“Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the statement read.
The department clarified that the bond amount will be determined during the visa interview. Applicants are required to fill out a specific immigration bond form and make their payment through an official government platform.
“The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview. The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352. Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of place of application,” the statement added.
Applicants were also warned not to attempt to post the bond unless instructed to do so by a US consular officer and not to use third-party websites.
“Applicants should submit Form I-352 to post a bond only after a consular officer directs them to do so. Applicants will receive a direct link to pay through Pay.gov. They must not use any third-party website for posting the bond. The U.S. Government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its systems,” the statement continued.
The department emphasized that simply paying the bond doesn’t ensure that a visa will be granted, and any funds paid too early won’t be refunded.
“A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned,” the statement further read.
The department emphasized that simply paying the bond doesn’t ensure that a visa will be granted, and any funds paid too early won’t be refunded.
“Visa Bond terms are set on the bond form (Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 Immigration Bonds) and on Travel.State.Gov. The bond will be canceled and the money returned if the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the date to which they are authorized to stay in the United States, or the visa holder does not travel to the United States before the expiration of the visa, or the visa holder applies for and is denied admission at the U.S. port of entry,” the statement explained.
The department mentioned that any suspected violations of visa bond terms will be looked into, and this could lead to the bond being forfeited
“The Department of Homeland Security will send cases where the visa holder may have broken the visa bond terms to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is to determine if there was a breach. It includes, but is not limited to the Department of Homeland Security records indicate that the visa holder departed from the United States after the date to which he or she is authorized to stay in the United States or the visa holder stays in the United States after the date to which he or she is authorized to do so and does not leave, or the visa holder applies to adjust out of nonimmigrant status, including claiming asylum,” the statement read.
Under the new policy, those holding visa bonds will need to enter and exit the United States exclusively through specific ports of entry.
The approved ports and their implementation dates are as follows: Boston Logan International Airport (August 20, 2025), John F. Kennedy International Airport (August 20, 2025), Washington Dulles International Airport (August 20, 2025), Newark Liberty International Airport (January 1, 2026), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (January 1, 2026).
Additionally, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (January 1, 2026), Los Angeles International Airport (January 1, 2026), Toronto Pearson International Airport (January 1, 2026), and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (January 1, 2026) are included.
The countries impacted by this new visa bond requirement are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, and The Gambia.
Other affected nations include Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Ksh1.9 Million for US Visa
