The United States has officially added Uganda to its expanded visa bond programme, a move that will require certain Ugandan nationals applying for U.S. B-1/B-2 visitor visas to post refundable security bonds of up to $15,000, beginning January 21, 2026. The policy represents one of the most consequential U.S. immigration changes affecting East African travelers in recent years.
The announcement follows an update by the U.S. Department of State to its “Countries Subject to Visa Bonds” list, which now includes 38 countries worldwide. Nationals from these countries may be required to provide a financial guarantee to ensure compliance with the terms of their temporary stay in the United States.
How the Visa Bond Programme Works
The visa bond requirement is being implemented under a pilot programme authorized by a Temporary Final Rule pursuant to Section 221(g)(3) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under this framework, U.S. consular officers have the discretion to require visa applicants deemed at higher risk of overstaying their authorized stay to post bonds valued at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
Risk assessments are informed by overstay statistics published in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report, which tracks the number of foreign nationals who fail to depart the United States after their visas expire.
Importantly, the bond is refundable if the visa holder departs the United States within the authorized period or if the visa application is ultimately denied. However, U.S. officials emphasize that posting a bond does not guarantee visa approval, and failure to comply with visa conditions could result in bond forfeiture, immigration penalties, or future travel restrictions.
Uganda Among Growing List of Affected Countries
With its inclusion, Uganda joins a diverse group of countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific that are now subject to the visa bond policy. Other African nations on the list include Nigeria, Angola, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Benin, and Malawi, with enforcement timelines ranging from August 2025 to January 2026.
The U.S. government has stated that the programme aims to curb visa overstays, which officials argue undermine the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. However, the policy has drawn criticism for disproportionately affecting travelers from developing countries.
Concerns Over Accessibility and Fairness
Critics argue that the bond requirement could make short-term travel to the United States financially inaccessible for many ordinary travelers, including business visitors, tourists, families, students, and members of the Ugandan diaspora. A bond of up to $15,000—often required upfront—may exceed the annual income of many applicants.
Travel industry associations, immigration attorneys, and civil rights groups have also questioned the effectiveness of visa bonds, arguing that they fail to address the underlying drivers of overstays, such as lengthy visa processing delays, limited legal pathways for travel, and economic disparities. Instead, they warn, the policy risks penalizing legitimate travelers and discouraging lawful engagement with the United States.
Part of a Broader Shift in U.S. Immigration Enforcement
The visa bond expansion comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policies. Recent changes have included stricter visa adjudication standards, expanded scrutiny of applicants’ travel histories and social media activity, and enhanced enforcement actions against visa overstays and unauthorized changes of immigration status.
Together, these measures signal a more enforcement-focused approach to temporary travel, with significant implications for global mobility and international relations—particularly for countries newly added to the visa bond programme, such as Uganda.
About Memoir Uganda – Showcasing Uganda
We are a comprehensive tourism and travel media company unleashing information about Uganda. We offer, among others, an all-inclusive guide on everything Uganda such as itineraries, consular information, timely and updated tour and travel news and general information about visiting and living in Uganda.
To us, Uganda is more than a tour destination. It is our homeland. Our knowledge about Uganda is ocean deep and we love showing the country’s splendid beauty to the world. We aim at sharing and showcasing Uganda to the tiniest bit, better than anyone else. We also aim at conserving our home land through our un wavered efforts towards climate change awareness.
Our Memoir Magazine showcases Uganda’s diverse potential in detail that is often left out and unknown. You ought never to miss a copy. We robustly believe that traveling should make the world a better place for everyone.
