Malawians applying for U.S. business and tourist visas will now be required to post a bond of up to $20,000 after the U.S. State Department announced it is making permanent a pilot programme targeting selected African countries.
A draft notice published on Friday in the Federal Register says the program takes effect on Monday and Malawi appears on the list of affected countries.
Some African countries on the list include Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
According to the international publications, under the permanent rule, applicants for B1 and B2 visas, which are the categories for business and tourist travel, must pay a bond before they can be interviewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
It is reported that the Donald Trump administration introduced the pilot to curb visa overstays as part of broader immigration enforcement and it states that arresting and deporting one visa overstayer costs about $18,000.
The bond is said to be refundable and will be returned if the visa application is denied. It has also been indicated that if a visa is granted, the money is also refunded once the traveler abides by all visa terms and departs the U.S. on time.
Additional countries may be added when the final notice is formally released on Monday.Critics argue the policy imposes a disproportionate burden on citizens of lower-income countries and penalizes travelers based on nationality rather than individual circumstances.
