By Naledi Nyoni
HARARE — Zimbabweans applying for certain United States visitor visas could be required to pay refundable security bonds of up to US$20,000 after Washington made its controversial visa bond programme permanent.
Policy, introduced as a one-year pilot on August 20, 2025, was formally adopted on August 3 following a review by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
It applies to selected applicants seeking B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas and is intended to curb visa overstays.
Applicants selected by US consular officers may now be required to pay refundable bonds of US$10,000, US$15,000 or US$20,000, depending on their individual risk assessment.
During the pilot phase, bond amounts ranged between US$5,000 and US$15,000.
Notice published in the Federal Register said the year-long trial demonstrated that the programme improved compliance with temporary visa conditions, providing sufficient evidence for it to become a permanent feature of the US immigration system.
US authorities said countries covered by the programme are identified using several factors, including visa overstay rates compiled by the Department of Homeland Security.
Zimbabwe is among 30 African countries covered by the policy, making Africa the region most affected.
Other countries on the list are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
Visa bonds are separate from standard visa application fees and are refundable if travellers comply with the conditions of their visas, including departing the United States before their authorised stay expires.
Trump’s administration says the policy is designed to discourage visa overstays and strengthen compliance with US immigration rules without affecting travellers who observe the terms of their temporary visas.
