The Trump administration quietly expanded a program requiring visa applicants from certain countries to post cash bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, the State Department announced, adding seven nations to a list that now totals 13 — 11 of them in Africa. The designations took effect January 1 and make U.S. visa access financially out of reach for many would-be visitors from the newly designated nations, according to the Associated Press.
The State Department added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan to the list last week. A notice posted on travel.state.gov confirmed the January 1 effective date.
The expansion is the latest tightening of U.S. entry requirements under President Donald Trump, whose administration has also required citizens of all visa-requiring countries to attend in-person interviews and disclose years of social media history, prior travel records, and living conditions for themselves and their families.
How the bond program works
Bond amounts under the program range from $5,000 to $15,000. Posting a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. The bond amount is refunded if a visa application is denied, or if a visa holder later demonstrates compliance with the terms of their visa.
U.S. officials have said the bonds are effective at ensuring that citizens of listed countries do not overstay their visas.
Countries on the list
The seven new additions join six countries added in August and October 2025: Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia. Of the 13 countries now on the list, 11 are in Africa. The two non-African nations are Bhutan and Turkmenistan.