The United States (U.S.) government has further tightened its immigration policies, adding The Gambia as the third African nation to its visa bond program, effective October 11, 2025.
This expansion, which was announced by the U.S State Department, targets B-1/B-2 business and tourist visa applicants from The Gambia.
This means visa applicants from The Gambia will now be required to post refundable bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to ensure compliance with visa terms.
The U.S. visa bond program, launched as a one-year pilot in August 2025 under President Donald Trump’s administration, initially included Malawi (added August 20, 2025) and Zambia (added August 20, 2025) as the first participants.
However, The Gambia has been included, with the State Department explaining that the development is aimed at deterring visa overstays—a persistent issue cited by U.S. officials as a national security concern.
According to the Federal Register’s temporary final rule, the visa bond program responds to Executive Order 14159, which emphasized robust enforcement of immigration laws to “protect the American people against invasion.”
This was contained in a notice issued by the State Department.
Under the U.S. visa bond program, eligible applicants must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and pay the bond via the official Pay.gov portal immediately after a consular officer’s directive during the visa interview.
Also, under the terms, approved visas are typically single-entry, valid for only three months, and allow a maximum stay of 30 days in the United States.
The bond amount is tailored to the applicant’s circumstances, starting at a minimum of $5,000, and is fully refundable upon successful adherence to visa conditions, including departure within the authorized period.
Visa holders from The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia are also mandated to enter and exit the United States exclusively through designated ports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York or other specified gateways.
The U.S. State Department warned that failure to comply could result in bond forfeiture, denied entry, or unrecorded departures, potentially complicating future travel.
The statement reads in part: “Applicants must agree to the bond terms through the Department of the Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov, and are directed to submit Form I-352 only after a consular officer instructs them to do so.
“The State Department has cautioned against using third-party websites, warning that any fees paid outside official channels are not refundable.
“Importantly, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, they will not get that money back.
“Visa holders who post a bond are also required to enter and exit the U.S. through three designated airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).”
It was gathered that the three African countries were added to the visa bond program because of the high rate of overstays among their citizens.
According to a detailed report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) titled: FY 2024 Overstay Report (updated July 16, 2025), The Gambia recorded a 38.79% overstay rate for B1/B2 visas and 18.6% overall; Malawi saw an overstay rate of 14.32% by land and 4.17% by air/sea for visitors, and 19.71% among student visa holders and Zambia also reported over 10% overstay rates for visitor visas.
To put that in context, India’s B1/B2 overstay rate in the same period was just 1.29%, showing how significant the gap is.
The development also comes as Trump’s administration has been intensifying its fight against illegal migrants in the United States.
Already, Trump has put in place tough policies to make it difficult for migrants to enter the country.
Recently, Trump announced that U.S. H-1B visa applications will now attract a $100,000 fee. It was gathered that the $100,000 would be a single upfront fee tied only to the first petition
Recall also that Trump has unveiled a $1 million Gold Card, a premium visa program targeting the world’s wealthiest immigrants for expedited residency and a pathway to citizenship.
Announced via executive order, Trump declared that the initiative is expected to generate billions in revenue while prioritizing high-value contributors to the American economy.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump also described the $1 million Gold Card program as a “game-changer” for legal immigration, emphasizing its role in fixing a “broken system” plagued by illegal entries.
