The United States Department of State has officially announced the first foreign citizens to be subjected to tourist visa application bonds of up to $15,000 should they want to visit the country.

The citizens affected are those from two African countries, Malawi and Zambia.

This is according to a US Department of State official document released on its website on Tuesday.

The policy is expected to kick off on August 20, 2025, according to a US official document.

The decision was based on the countries’ nationals B1/B2 overstay rate per the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2023 Overstay Report.

According to the US State Department, the applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 agreeing to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform.

“Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined at the time of the visa interview,” the document stated.

“This requirement applies regardless of place of application,” it added.

UGAMATV reports that foreigners seeking to visit the US on business or tourist visa applications, including those from Nigeria, will be required to have a visa bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.