The U.S. government on Tuesday imposed a $15,000 bond on all tourist visa applications from Malawi and Zambia, two countries identified for high rates of visa overstays, as part of a 12-month pilot programme launched to curb visa overstays.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2023 Overstay Report, citizens of Malawi and Zambia remained in the U.S. longer than their visas allowed, prompting the Donald Trump administration to impose a $15,000 bond on B1 and B2 visa applicants from both nations, regardless of the country of application.
The bond will go into effect on August 20.
Applicants from these nations are required to submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352, where a consular officer will direct them to pay either $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 into a pay.gov account. Applicants who pay without being directed to do so will forfeit their money to the U.S. government.
According to the bond, Malawians and Zambians must arrive in and depart from the U.S. using any of the designated airports listed in the pilot programme.
The airports are limited to Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
The bonds will be refunded if the applicant exits the U.S. on or before the day of visa expiration, or does not travel to the U.S. at all during the validity of their visas, or was denied a visa.
In the event the visa holder remains in the U.S. after visa expiration, or stays in the U.S. to claim asylum, the bond will be forfeited.
