President Donald Trump’s administration is rolling out a new visa rule that will see visitors from Zambia and Malawi pay a hefty US$15,000 (about £11,300) deposit for a tourist or business visa.
The policy, which kicks off in two weeks, is part of a 12-month pilot programme aimed at curbing visa overstays and tightening vetting procedures, according to a statement from the US State Department.
Officials say the deposit will be refunded when travellers return home, but also hinted that more countries could be added to the list in future. The notice, published on Tuesday, reads:
Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program.
Consular officers may require covered non-immigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.
The US government is pressing ahead with tougher immigration controls as part of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to reduce illegal immigration.
Recent figures from the US Department of Homeland Security show that approximately 14% of visitors from Malawi and 11% from Zambia overstayed their visas in 2023.
Other countries with even higher overstay rates include Haiti at 31%, Myanmar at 27%, and Yemen at 20%.
More: BBC News
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