Donald Trump's Administration Imposes KSh 1.9m Visa Bond on 2 African Countries
- The United States (US) Department of State explained why citizens of two African countries will pay a visa bond
- President Donald Trump's administration warned that paying the KSh 1.9 million bond does not guarantee visa issuance, unless certain conditions are met
- Geopolitical economist Aly-Khan Satchu explained to TUKO.co.ke why Kenyans could be spared from the visa bond
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The United States (US) State Department has declared that Zambian and Malawian tourists and business visitors seeking a US visa must pay a deposit of up to $15,000 (KSh 1.93 million).
Source: Getty Images
The decision, which will take effect on Wednesday, August 20, has been likened to a visa ban for the two African countries.
Why did Trump's government introduce a visa bond?
In a notice on Tuesday, August 5, the State Department noted that the decision was taken to prevent visa overstays.
"Based on their B1/B2 overstay rate as reported in the Department of Homeland Security's FY 2023 Overstay Report, the Department of State has designated citizens of Zambia and Malawi as being subject to visa bonds, as specified in INA Section 221(g)(3) and the recently released Temporary Final Rule (TFR) establishing the pilot programme."
However, it warned that paying the visa bond does not guarantee visa issuance, clarifying that the money would be returned if specific requirements were fulfilled.
According to a separate notice in the Federal Register, the visa bonds target travellers from nations that have been designated as "having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement."
"If the applicant complies with the conditions of the nonimmigrant visa status and the conditions of the visa bond, which are outlined on the bond form (Department of Homeland Security's Form I-352 Immigration Bonds) and in the Federal Register, the entire amount of the bond will be returned to the applicant," it stated.
Source: Getty Images
Could Kenya be affected?
Geopolitical economist Aly-Khan Satchu wondered why Zambia and Malawi were targeted by the Trump administration, yet their citizens had no serious immigration breaches.
"This is seriously egregious. There is no evidence I have seen that shows that either country’s citizens are malfeasant to this degree," he told TUKO.co.ke.
He opined that Kenyans could be spared from the visa bond in the future if additional countries are added.
"With respect to Kenya, the 10% tariff confirms that Kenya has some important and effective leverage inside the US administration. However, what we do know is that the administration has taken a whole new approach to Africa and a coercive one, so betting on outcomes at this point is a fool's errand," he added.
How much is the visa integrity fee?
The Trump administration has imposed strict immigration laws that make it hard to obtain a US visa.
The visa bond was introduced following the introduction of a $250 (KSh 32,225) visa integrity fee that foreign travellers must pay in addition to their visa fees.
If tourists adhere to the terms of their visa, the fee will be reimbursed.
Which African nations did Trump ban from the US?
In related news, Trump announced a broad new travel restriction that would apply to citizens of up to 43 countries, many of which are in Africa.
Three African countries, Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan, are among the 11 countries on the red list, which imposes a complete restriction on immigration.
Ten countries, including African countries like South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Eritrea, are on the orange list, which mainly limits visas to wealthy business travellers.
The 22 nations on the yellow list, which include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe, have 60 days to resolve security vetting issues or risk more stringent limitations.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
