Ugandans may soon be required to pay visa bonds before being issued with U.S. visas.
The development follows a growing number of Ugandans who have overstayed in the United States on tourist and medical visas.
Uganda has joined a list of 38 countries—mostly from Africa—whose nationals may be required to pay visa bonds before being granted U.S. visas.
The U.S. Department of State has identified nationals from these countries as requiring visa bonds. The implementation dates vary by country.
“Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is otherwise eligible for a visa but deemed at risk of overstaying, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the U.S. government said in a statement.
The bond amount will be determined during the visa interview. Applicants will be required to agree to the bond terms through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform. This requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is made.
The U.S. government emphasized that applicants should only submit the bond payment after being directed to do so by a consular officer.
“The U.S. Government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its official systems. A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If fees are paid without a consular officer’s direction, they will not be refunded,” the statement said.
As part of the bond conditions, visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry. Failure to comply may result in denial of entry or a departure not being properly recorded.
The U.S. government indicated that the bond will be automatically canceled and the money refunded once the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the authorized date of stay.
The bond may also be refunded if the visa holder does not travel to the United States before the visa expires, or if the visa holder applies for admission at a U.S. port of entry and is denied.
Under the new arrangement, the Department of Homeland Security will refer cases where a visa holder may have violated bond terms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This includes cases where a visa holder overstays beyond the authorized period and fails to depart the United States.
