Zimbabwean travellers seeking to visit the United States for business or tourism will now face a significant new financial hurdle, following the introduction of a visa bond requirement under a United States pilot programme.
Effective 21 January, applicants for US B1/B2 visas may be required to pay a refundable bond of up to US$15,000 as part of their visa application process. Zimbabwe has been included among countries selected for the pilot initiative, which the US government says is aimed at strengthening immigration compliance.
The bond is not a visa fee and does not guarantee visa approval. Authorities have clarified that applicants whose visas are denied will have the bond refunded. Refunds will also apply to travellers who enter the United States and depart within the authorised visa period, or those who do not travel before the visa expires.
The move comes amid tighter US visa controls and is expected to significantly affect prospective travellers, particularly first time applicants and small business operators who rely on short term travel for trade, conferences and tourism.
While the US government has not publicly detailed the criteria for determining who must pay the bond or the exact bond amounts per applicant, immigration analysts say the measure is designed to deter visa overstays and enforce compliance with immigration conditions.
The inclusion of
Zimbabwe in the pilot programme is likely to spark debate locally, as the bond requirement introduces a substantial upfront cost that may place US travel beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens, even before visa approval is considered.
