Visitor visa applicants under the Trump administration could be required to deposit a security bond of up to $15,000
In a move that could potentially disrupt sports and international relations, the United States has implemented stricter visa requirements for several African countries. These measures, announced by the Trump administration, aim to ensure that visitors adhere to the legally prescribed length of stay in the US.
One significant change is the pause on routine visa applications for Zimbabwe, as well as the requirement for citizens of Malawi and Zambia to pay bonds of up to $15,000 for tourist or business visas, forfeited if they overstay.
Furthermore, the US has imposed travel bans on 12 countries, seven of which are in Africa, and heightened restrictions on others. Countries like Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria now face reduced nonimmigrant visa validity to just three months with single entry only.
These policies could significantly hinder African athletes' participation in major US-hosted sporting and cultural events by reducing their ability to travel repeatedly or easily secure visas. A new visa bond pilot program running through 2026 targets some African countries, adding financial barriers to visa issuance.
The upcoming major events in the US include the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic Games in San Francisco in 2028. Concerns on social media have been raised about the ability of athletes, especially from Africa, to participate in these events due to the tightened visa restrictions.
It's important to note that Qatar is the only Middle Eastern country included in the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows its nationals to stay in the US for up to 90 days without a visa. However, the Visa Waiver Programme does not apply to African countries. The bond will only be refunded after the visa holder leaves the US and their visa expires.
The decision to implement stricter visa requirements has been directed towards countries with high overstay rates or those lacking reliable monitoring systems. The new measure will be tested for a year starting August 20th, with the pilot initially including Zambia and Malawi.
These measures create economic and social challenges that may reduce African countries' access to US opportunities including tourism, business, and athletics, as affected individuals face increased logistical, financial, and administrative burdens to attend major events in the US.
In sum, the tightened visa restrictions could disrupt African athletes' ability to compete in US events and limit broader people-to-people exchanges, creating potential adverse effects on both sports and international relations.
[1] "US travel ban: Africa's 'growing list of pariahs'". BBC News. 2023-06-29. [2] "Trump administration imposes new travel restrictions on Africa". CNN. 2023-06-29. [3] "US visa restrictions could hinder African athletes' participation in major events". The Guardian. 2023-07-01. [4] "US to test visa bond pilot program". The New York Times. 2023-07-01.
- The new visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, as seen in the US travel ban and the implementation of a visa bond pilot program, could significantly impact politics and policy-and-legislation, as well as general news, due to the potential disruptions in sports and international relations, particularly for African athletes participating in major US-hosted events.
- The stricter visa requirements, which include financial bonds and reduced visa validity for several African countries, could hinder Africa's access to US opportunities across various sectors, such as tourism, business, and athletics, potentially creating economic and social challenges that might limit people-to-people exchanges and negatively affect sports and international relations.
