New Trump Travel Blow: U.S. Imposes $15,000 Visa Bond on 12 More Countries, Including Ethiopia and Tunisia

The $15,000 Entry Barrier

The United States government has announced a significant expansion of its controversial visa bond policy, adding 12 new countries to a list of nations whose citizens must pay a $15,000 bond to obtain a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visa. The policy, which takes effect on April 2, 2026, is a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on visa overstays.

A State Department official confirmed that the bond is designed as a financial "guarantee" of return. The money will be refunded only to travellers who return to their home countries in full compliance with their visa terms or to those who choose not to travel after paying.

The 12 Newly Added Nations:

  • Africa: Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tunisia.

  • Asia/Pacific: Cambodia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea.

  • Other: Georgia, Grenada, Nicaragua.

Target: Africa and "High-Overstay" Nations

With the addition of these 12 countries, the total number of nations affected by the $15,000 bond program has risen to 50. The list is heavily weighted toward African nations, which the administration claims have higher statistical rates of visa overstays.

Nigeria, which was already among the 38 countries previously included, remains under the bond requirement. Other previously listed nations include Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The State Department maintains that the program has successfully reduced the number of individuals who remain in the U.S. illegally after their visas expire.

Human Rights and Diplomatic Backlash

The expansion has triggered immediate condemnation from human rights groups and international observers. Critics argue that the $15,000 fee—roughly ₦24 million at current exchange rates—effectively bans all but the wealthiest citizens from these nations from visiting the U.S., violating principles of due process and equal access.

The move follows a series of hard-line immigration policies under the current administration, including:

  • Enhanced Social Media Screening: Reviewing years of posts and public speeches of visa applicants.

  • Aggressive Deportation Drives: Targeting undocumented immigrants and those with expired visas.

  • Selective Travel Bans: Fully or partially blocking citizens from 19 nations on national security grounds.

Analysis: The "Wealth Check" on Global Mobility

By setting the bond at $15,000, the U.S. is essentially shifting from a merit-based visa system to a wealth-based one for these 50 nations. For many professional travellers from Ethiopia or Nigeria, this amount exceeds several years of average savings, making business trips or family visits nearly impossible. Diplomatically, this move risks alienating key African allies at a time when global competition for influence on the continent is at its peak. As the April 2 deadline approaches, expect a surge in "emergency" visa applications as travellers scramble to bypass the new financial requirement.

"The aim is to prevent visitors from overstaying their visas... the bond will be returned to recipients who return home in compliance." — U.S. State Department Official