The United States is preparing to introduce stricter immigration measures that could see some visitors from more than 30 African countries pay up to $20,000, about KSh2.56 million, as a refundable visa bond before travelling.
The proposed changes mainly affect business and tourist visa applicants and are part of a wider effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce visa overstays.
According to a draft notice published in the Federal Register, the maximum visa bond will increase from the current $15,000 to $20,000. The bond is different from the normal visa application fee because it serves as a financial guarantee that travellers will follow U.S. immigration rules and leave the country before their visas expire.
The proposal applies to people seeking B1 and B2 visas, which are commonly issued for business and tourism. U.S. consular officers will have the authority to decide whether an applicant should pay the bond before a visa is approved.
If a visa application is denied, the money will be refunded. Those who receive visas and leave the United States within the permitted period will also receive their bond back.
However, the proposal removes the existing $5,000 bond option, meaning affected applicants would only face higher bond amounts.
The planned changes target visitors from more than 30 African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Tunisia, Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. Kenya has not been included in the latest list.Despite Kenya being left out for now, U.S. authorities have indicated that additional countries could be added if the programme becomes a permanent part of the country’s immigration system.
This means future policy changes could eventually affect Kenyan travellers.Travellers who are required to pay the bond will also have to enter and leave the United States through designated airports.
These include John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Boston Logan International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
The visa bond programme was first introduced in August 2025 as a pilot project under the Trump administration. U.S. officials say the policy was designed to reduce illegal immigration and discourage visitors from overstaying their visas.
According to the U.S. government, it spends around $18,000 to arrest and deport each person who overstays a visa. Officials believe requiring some travellers to provide a refundable financial guarantee will improve compliance with immigration laws while reducing enforcement costs.
The draft notice is expected to be officially published soon, with the programme also expected to move from a pilot project to a permanent immigration policy. U.S. authorities also expect the new rules to reduce the number of B1 and B2 visa applications from countries covered by the programme.
Although Kenyan travellers are not currently affected, the possibility of expanding the programme means they will need to monitor future changes in U.S. immigration policy.
The proposal reflects Washington’s continued efforts to tighten border controls and strengthen compliance with immigration regulations for temporary visitors.
