WASHINGTON — Beginning August 20, travelers from Malawi and Zambia seeking to enter the United States on business or tourist visas will be required to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000, the US State Department announced Tuesday.
The measure, introduced as part of a one-year pilot program, is aimed at curbing visa overstays—a priority of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown.
Under the new policy, the bond will be refunded if the traveler complies with all visa conditions and departs the US before the authorized stay expires. However, overstaying the visa will result in forfeiture of the bond.
“This targeted, common-sense measure reinforces the administration’s commitment to US immigration law while deterring visa overstays,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.
The requirement, first announced on Monday without specifying affected nations, will apply to two southern African countries—Malawi and Zambia. Both are landlocked nations with relatively low numbers of visitors to the US each year.
Part of Broader Immigration Enforcement
US officials described the program as a “key pillar of the Trump Administration’s foreign policy” aimed at addressing what they view as a national security risk posed by visa overstays.
President Donald Trump has in recent months tightened visa requirements for several countries, particularly in Africa, as part of his administration’s anti-immigration agenda.
While the pilot program is limited in scope, critics have warned that such measures could discourage legitimate travel and strain diplomatic ties with affected countries.
The State Department has not indicated whether the bond requirement will be extended to other countries after the one-year trial period.
