ZAMBIAN hoping to travel to the United States for business or leisure will now have to dig much deeper into their pockets, as the US government has introduced a new visa bond of up to US$15,000 (K345,377) targeting countries with high visa overstay records.
The policy, which comes into effect on August 20, 2025, will run for 12 months as part of a pilot programme targeting countries with high visa overstay rates.
Zambia and Malawi have been named among the first countries to be affected.
According to a notice published in the US Federal Register, the bond will apply to applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourism visas.
The visa bond is a financial guarantee that a traveller will return home after their visit and not overstay the allowed period.
If the traveller complies with all VISA conditions, the bond will be refunded.
America’s State Department said the new measure is aimed at strengthening immigration controls and reducing the number of people who overstay their visas.
The State Department says the policy is aimed at curbing visa overstays, which it says have been a recurring issue among travellers from certain countries.
Zambia and Malawi’s inclusion in the pilot programme has sparked concern among citizens and immigration advocates, who fear the policy will unfairly penalise genuine travellers and creating barriers for ordinary people seeking to visit family or explore business opportunities in the US.
For now, Zambians wishing to head to America for tourism or business will not only need a passport and visa but also a serious bank balance.
Kalemba August 6, 2025
