The Trump Administration has expanded its visa bond programme, a 12-month pilot scheme targeting business and tourism visa applicants from countries with historically high visa overstay rates. Initially introduced in August 2025 for Malawi and Zambia, the programme now includes The Gambia, effective from October 11th, 2025. Nationals from these countries must pay a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined during the visa interview, to secure a visa. Critics argue that this requirement imposes an immense financial burden, making travel to the United States increasingly difficult for residents of poorer nations, despite the bond being fully refundable upon adherence to all rules, such as timely departure. While Malawi and Zambia reportedly have high visa overstay rates (14.3% and 11.1% respectively), the number of overstays is lower than that from more populous nations, leading to accusations that the administration is unfairly targeting African countries. This move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on immigration and travel restrictions impacting African nationals.
