The United States has introduced a new visa policy requiring tourists and business travelers from Malawi and Zambia to pay a US$15,000 bond as part of a 12-month pilot program aimed at reducing visa overstays. According to a State Department notice published on August 5, the policy may soon extend to travelers from other countries with high overstay rates. The bond will be refunded upon departure.
The measure is part of President Donald Trump’s broader agenda to curb illegal immigration during his second term in office. On his first day back in the White House, Trump signed an executive order directing consular officers to impose bonds on select non-immigrant visa applicants. The decision reflects ongoing concerns about overstays, with Department of Homeland Security figures showing 14% of visitors from Malawi and 11% from Zambia fail to leave on time.
The administration justifies the move as a means to ensure compliance and enhance vetting standards. Officials suggest more countries, such as Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen—which also report high overstay rates—may be added to the program.
The new visa rule joins a long list of controversial executive actions by Trump, including pardons for January 6 rioters, withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, and efforts to eliminate perceived "anti-American" bias from federal institutions.
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