The United States has made its visa bond programme permanent. Certain applicants for B1 (Business) and B2 (Tourist) visas may be required to provide a refundable visa bond of up to US$20,000 before a visa is issued.
Key changes
• Visa bonds may be required for selected B1/B2 visa applicants.
• Maximum bond amount: US$20,000.
• Determined individually by U.S. consular officers.
• Effective date: 3 August.
• The programme is now permanent rather than a pilot.
Who may be affected
• Nationals of 50 listed countries, including The Gambia and many other African countries.
• Not every applicant will be required to pay a bond.
Purpose
• To reduce visa overstays and improve compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
Refund Policy
• The bond is refundable if the visitor complies with all visa conditions.
• Gambian have to apply for US Visas from the US Embassy in Dakar-Senegal.
• The bond may be forfeited if visa conditions are violated.
Countries Listed in the Poster
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
