The United States Department of State has announced that nationals of Malawi and Zambia will be the first African citizens required to post tourist visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the country.
According to an official statement released on Tuesday via the State Department’s website, the new policy takes effect on 20 August 2025. It targets applicants for B1/B2 visitor visas—typically issued for business and tourism—based on high overstay rates recorded in the Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Overstay Report.
Under the policy, eligible applicants must post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the specific amount determined at the time of the visa interview. The payment is to be made via the U.S. Treasury’s online platform, using Department of Homeland Security Form I‑352 to confirm the bond agreement.
“Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the document reads, emphasising that the requirement applies irrespective of the place of application.
