Enforcing potential visa bonds of up to $15,000 for tourists and business travelers hailing from Zambia and Malawi, as per US demands.
In a move aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement and reducing visa overstays, the Trump administration has announced a new pilot program that requires nationals from Malawi and Zambia to post a financial bond as a guarantee they will comply with visa rules and leave the US on time.
The visa bond, effective from August 20, 2025, targets these countries as a test to see if financial liability can reduce overstays. While Malawi and Zambia might not have the highest overstay rates globally, their rates are significant enough to have triggered this pilot initiative.
The bond amounts reflect the estimated $17,121 cost of immigration enforcement per individual, aiming to create a financial deterrent specifically calibrated for these cases. The visa bond will be reimbursed if the visa holder departs from the United States on or before the authorized date, does not travel to the US before the visa expiration, or is denied admission at the US port of entry.
The decision to single out Malawi and Zambia for this pilot program is based on their relatively high visa overstay rates—14.32% for Malawi and 10.45% for Zambia—according to the Department of Homeland Security's most recent data. However, it's important to note that neither of these countries has the highest visa overstay rates in the world or in Africa.
The imposition of the visa bond is considered "unfair" and a "serious financial burden" for genuine travelers by human rights lawyer Habiba Osman, who heads Malawi's Human Rights Commission. The program may expand to other countries with double-digit overstay percentages later, with short notice.
Travel to the US could get harder in the coming months for many African nations, with seven already banned two months ago, and three others partially restricted. The Trump administration has aggressively clamped down on immigration and is tightening requirements for securing US visas.
Malawian authorities have yet to publicly comment on the matter, while Zambia's foreign minister, Mulambo Haimbe, has said he would speak after "internal consultation." It remains to be seen how these developments will impact travel between the US and these African nations.
- The new US visa bond pilot program, commencing from August 2025, is not only targeting Malawian and Zambian nationals, but it may also affect travel for those from other countries with high visa overstay rates, as the administration considers expanding the program.
- As the Trump administration continues to harden its stance on immigration, politics and general news outlets should closely monitor the impact of the visa bond program on travel to the US for African nations, especially Malawi and Zambia, given their comparatively high visa overstay rates.
