Travelers from 30 African countries will be among those affected by a new U.S. visa bond policy requiring selected applicants for short-term visitor visas to pay refundable security deposits of up to $20,000, following the permanent adoption of the measure by the U.S. Department of State.

The policy, which took effect on Aug. 3, applies to selected applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas from 50 countries worldwide, with African nations accounting for the majority of those covered.

Under the rule, U.S. consular officers may require applicants to post refundable bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 before a visa is issued. Travelers who comply with the terms of their visas, including leaving the United States before their authorized stay expires, will be eligible to receive their deposits back.

Countries affected include Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, among others, making Africa the region most impacted by the new requirements.

The permanent policy follows a pilot programme launched in 2025 that required bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The revised programme removes the lowest bond tier and raises the maximum amount to $20,000.

The State Department affirmed that the programme is intended to encourage compliance with U.S. immigration rules and reduce visa overstays. Officials cited the pilot programme as the basis for making the measure permanent.

The policy is expected to have implications for business travel, tourism and family visits from Africa to the United States, as applicants from affected countries may face significantly higher upfront costs when applying for short-term visas.