By Ben Musanje
Uganda has been added to a growing list of countries whose citizens will now be required to pay a pre-application visa bond before traveling to the United States, under a new U.S. government pilot program aimed at reducing visa overstays.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Ugandan nationals applying for B1/B2 visitor visas will be subject to the bond requirement beginning January 21, 2026. The bond amount, which will be determined during the visa interview, will range between $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Uganda joins dozens of other countries affected by the policy, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Algeria, and Bangladesh.
The visa bond requirement is rooted in Section 221(g)(3) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and a Temporary Final Rule establishing the pilot program. The policy targets countries identified by U.S. authorities as having high B1/B2 visa overstay rates, based on data from the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.
Under the new rules, eligible applicants must submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 after being instructed to do so by a U.S. consular officer. Payments must be made exclusively through the U.S. Treasury’s official online platform, Pay.gov. U.S. authorities have cautioned applicants against using third-party websites, noting that any funds paid outside official government systems will not be protected or refunded.
Officials emphasized that posting a bond does not guarantee visa approval. Applicants who submit payments without direct instruction from a consular officer will not receive a refund, even if their visa application is later denied.
As part of the bond conditions, visa holders from affected countries, including Uganda, will be required to enter and exit the United States through designated airports only. These are Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in denied entry or an improperly recorded departure.
The bond will be automatically canceled and refunded if the traveler leaves the United States on or before the authorized date of stay, does not travel to the U.S. before the visa expires, or is denied entry at the port of entry. However, the bond may be forfeited if the traveler overstays, remains in the U.S. unlawfully, or applies to adjust status from within the country, including by seeking asylum.
Cases involving possible breaches of bond conditions will be referred by the Department of Homeland Security to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for further review.
The policy has already sparked concern among travelers and immigration advocates, who argue that the high bond amounts may place travel to the United States beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens, even those with legitimate reasons to visit. For Ugandans planning travel to the U.S. after January 21, 2026, the new requirement marks a significant change in the visa application process and adds a substantial financial hurdle to short-term travel. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
