US Imposes Visa Bond on Zambia and Malawi, Sparking Controversy Among Travelers and Human Rights Advocates

The United States Department of State has announced that tourists and business travelers from Zambia and Malawi will now be required to deposit up to $15,000 as a visa bond when applying for a US visa. This move, aimed at curbing visa overstays, is not a guarantee for visa issuance but will be refunded under certain conditions.

The visa bond will be returned if the visa holder departs from the United States on or before their authorized stay, does not travel to the US before their visa expires, or is denied admission at the U.S. port of entry.

Under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies, this visa bond follows a planned $250 “visa integrity fee” that foreign visitors are required to pay, separate from their visa costs. Like the bond, this fee is also refundable if travelers comply with their visa conditions.

Countries targeted by the visa bonds include those with high visa overstay rates, insufficient screening and vetting information, or citizenship by investment programs with no residency requirement. Malawi and Zambia are the only countries currently affected, starting August 20 for a 12-month pilot period.

Although neither country has the highest visa overstay rates in the world or on the continent of Africa, they have been identified as having elevated overstay rates that indicate a higher likelihood of noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws.

Human rights lawyer Habiba Osman, head of Malawi’s Human Rights Commission, has deemed the imposition of the visa bond as “unfair” and a significant financial burden for genuine travelers. Osman, who frequently visits the US, described it as inhumane for a country like Malawi and a punishment to those traveling in good faith.

Malawian authorities have yet to publicly comment on the matter, while Zambia’s foreign minister, Mulambo Haimbe, has stated he will speak after internal consultation.

Travel restrictions may become more prevalent for African nations in the near future, as seven countries were banned two months ago, and three others were partially restricted. Proposed expansions could impose travel bans across swathes of West Africa if implemented.