According to the State Department, nationals of Malawi and Zambia will have to post “visa bonds” of up to $15,000 if they are deemed eligible to visit the United States on a visitor visa.
The new pilot program will go into effect starting August 20 and will run until August 5, 2026, according to NBC News. In addition to posting their bond amount, which will be determined at the time of their visa interview, applicants will also have to submit a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-352. A person’s visa bond could be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Malawians and Zambians applying for B-1 or B-2 non-immigrant visas, which include business and tourist travelers, face the new expense.
The visa bond pilot program is being enforced to prevent other countries’ nationals (in this case, Malawi and Zambia) from overstaying their allotted visit time in the U.S. Notably, the State Department outlines that “a bond does not…
