US nearly triples list of countries whose citizens must post bonds up to US$15,000 to apply for visas
The new requirement targets mostly African nations and critics say it puts US visas out of reach for many applicants.
07 Jan 2026 05:38AM
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is nearly tripling the number of countries whose passport holders will be required to post bonds of up to US$15,000 to apply to enter the United States.
Less than a week after adding seven countries to the list of nations subject to visa bonds, bringing the total to 13, the State Department on Tuesday (Jan 6) added 25 more. The bond requirement for the latest additions will take effect Jan 21, according to a notice posted on the travel.state.gov website.
The move means that 38 countries, most of them in Africa but some in Latin America and Asia, are now on the list, which makes the process of obtaining a US visa unaffordable for many.
It’s the latest effort by the Trump administration to tighten requirements for entry to the US, including requiring citizens from all countries that require visas to sit for in-person interviews and disclose years of social media histories as well as detailed accounts of their and their families’ previous travel and living arrangements.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-visa-trump-state-department-citizen-5827631
