Raia kutoka nchi 50, zikiwemo 30 za Afrika, watakabiliwa na amana za usalama za hadi dola 20,000 za Marekani wakati wa kuomba visa fulani za biashara na utalii chini ya programu ya kudumu ya dhamana ya visa iliyotangazwa na Marekani. Maafisa wanasema hatua hiyo inalenga kudhibiti watu wanaokaa kupita muda wa visa zao, lakini wakosoaji wanaonya kuwa inaweza kuwavunja moyo wasafiri halali.
Idara ya Mambo ya Nje ya Marekani imefanya mpango wa dhamana ya visa kuwa wa kudumu, ikimtaka mwombaji fulani kutoka nchi 50 kuweka amana ya usalama ya hadi dola 20,000 za Marekani kabla ya kupokea visa.
Soma zaidi:
Sheria hiyo imeanza kutumika tarehe 3 Agosti 2026, na inawahusu waombaji wanaotafuta visa za biashara (B-1) na utalii (B-2). Maafisa wa kibalozi wanaweza kutaka dhamana kama sharti la kutoa visa, ambapo amana hiyo itataifishwa ikiwa msafiri atakiuka masharti ya ukaazi wake baada ya kuingia nchini Marekani.
Kiasi cha juu cha dhamana
Sera hii ya kudumu inapanua mpango wa majaribio ulioanzishwa mnamo Agosti 2025.
Wakati wa majaribio hayo, waombaji wangeweza kuombwa kulipa dhamana ya dola 5,000, 10,000 au 15,000. Chini ya sheria iliyokamilika, kiwango cha chini kabisa kimeondolewa, huku viwango vya dola 10,000 na 15,000 vikibaki. Kiwango kipya cha juu cha dhamana cha dola 20,000 kimeanzishwa.
Nchi za Afrika zilizoathiriwa
Nchi 30 kati ya 50 zinazohusishwa na mpango huo zipo Afrika, zikiwemo Uganda, Ethiopia, Msumbiji na Zimbabwe.
Hatua hiyo ina maana kwamba waombaji wanaokidhi vigezo kutoka nchi hizo wanaweza kutakiwa kutoa dhamana ya fedha inayorejeshwa kabla ya kupata visa za biashara au utalii, ikitegemea tathmini ya maafisa wa kibalozi wa Marekani.
Lengo na wasiwasi
Idara ya Mambo ya Nje ilisema mpango huo umeundwa ili kupunguza muda wa kukaa kinyume cha sheria baada ya visa kuisha, ikinukuu matokeo ya awamu ya majaribio ambayo ilisema yalionyesha kuwa sharti la dhamana lilihimiza utii wa sheria za uhamiaji za Marekani.
Hata hivyo, wasimamizi wa masuala ya uhamiaji na watetezi wa utalii wanahoji kuwa amana hizo za juu zinaweza kuufanya usafiri kuwa nje ya uwezo wa wageni wengi watarajiwa, hasa kutoka nchi zenye kipato cha chini. Pia wanaonya kuwa sera hiyo inaweza kupunguza utalii wa kimataifa na kuathiri biashara katika maeneo ya Marekani yanayotegemea sana wasafiri wa kigeni.
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Nationals from 50 countries, including 30 in Africa, will face security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars when applying for certain business and tourist visas under a permanent visa bond program announced by the United States. Officials say the measure aims to curb visa overstays, but critics warn it could deter legitimate travelers.
The U.S. Department of State has made permanent a visa bond program requiring certain applicants from 50 countries to post security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars before receiving a visa.
The rule took effect on August 3, 2026, and applies to applicants seeking B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. Consular officers may require a bond as a condition for issuing a visa, with the deposit forfeited if the traveler violates the terms of their stay after entering the United States.
Higher bond amounts
The permanent policy expands a pilot program introduced in August 2025.
During the trial, applicants could be asked to pay bonds of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 dollars. Under the finalized rule, the lowest tier has been scrapped, while the 10,000- and 15,000-dollar levels remain. A new maximum bond of 20,000 dollars has been introduced.
African countries affected
Thirty of the 50 countries covered by the program are in Africa, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The measure means eligible applicants from those countries may be required to provide a refundable financial guarantee before obtaining visas for business or tourism, depending on an assessment by U.S. consular officers.
Aim and concerns
The State Department said the program is designed to reduce visa overstays, citing results from the pilot phase that it said demonstrated the bond requirement encouraged compliance with U.S. immigration rules.
However, immigration observers and tourism advocates argue the higher deposits could place travel beyond the reach of many prospective visitors, particularly from lower-income countries. They also warn the policy could reduce international tourism and affect businesses in U.S. destinations that rely heavily on foreign travelers.
Idara ya Mambo ya Nje ya Marekani imefanya mpango wa dhamana ya visa kuwa wa kudumu, ikimtaka mwombaji fulani kutoka nchi 50 kuweka amana ya usalama ya hadi dola 20,000 za Marekani kabla ya kupokea visa.
Soma zaidi:
Sheria hiyo imeanza kutumika tarehe 3 Agosti 2026, na inawahusu waombaji wanaotafuta visa za biashara (B-1) na utalii (B-2). Maafisa wa kibalozi wanaweza kutaka dhamana kama sharti la kutoa visa, ambapo amana hiyo itataifishwa ikiwa msafiri atakiuka masharti ya ukaazi wake baada ya kuingia nchini Marekani.
Kiasi cha juu cha dhamana
Sera hii ya kudumu inapanua mpango wa majaribio ulioanzishwa mnamo Agosti 2025.
Wakati wa majaribio hayo, waombaji wangeweza kuombwa kulipa dhamana ya dola 5,000, 10,000 au 15,000. Chini ya sheria iliyokamilika, kiwango cha chini kabisa kimeondolewa, huku viwango vya dola 10,000 na 15,000 vikibaki. Kiwango kipya cha juu cha dhamana cha dola 20,000 kimeanzishwa.
Nchi za Afrika zilizoathiriwa
Nchi 30 kati ya 50 zinazohusishwa na mpango huo zipo Afrika, zikiwemo Uganda, Ethiopia, Msumbiji na Zimbabwe.
Hatua hiyo ina maana kwamba waombaji wanaokidhi vigezo kutoka nchi hizo wanaweza kutakiwa kutoa dhamana ya fedha inayorejeshwa kabla ya kupata visa za biashara au utalii, ikitegemea tathmini ya maafisa wa kibalozi wa Marekani.
Lengo na wasiwasi
Idara ya Mambo ya Nje ilisema mpango huo umeundwa ili kupunguza muda wa kukaa kinyume cha sheria baada ya visa kuisha, ikinukuu matokeo ya awamu ya majaribio ambayo ilisema yalionyesha kuwa sharti la dhamana lilihimiza utii wa sheria za uhamiaji za Marekani.
Hata hivyo, wasimamizi wa masuala ya uhamiaji na watetezi wa utalii wanahoji kuwa amana hizo za juu zinaweza kuufanya usafiri kuwa nje ya uwezo wa wageni wengi watarajiwa, hasa kutoka nchi zenye kipato cha chini. Pia wanaonya kuwa sera hiyo inaweza kupunguza utalii wa kimataifa na kuathiri biashara katika maeneo ya Marekani yanayotegemea sana wasafiri wa kigeni.
===============
Nationals from 50 countries, including 30 in Africa, will face security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars when applying for certain business and tourist visas under a permanent visa bond program announced by the United States. Officials say the measure aims to curb visa overstays, but critics warn it could deter legitimate travelers.
The U.S. Department of State has made permanent a visa bond program requiring certain applicants from 50 countries to post security deposits of up to 20,000 U.S. dollars before receiving a visa.
The rule took effect on August 3, 2026, and applies to applicants seeking B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. Consular officers may require a bond as a condition for issuing a visa, with the deposit forfeited if the traveler violates the terms of their stay after entering the United States.
Higher bond amounts
The permanent policy expands a pilot program introduced in August 2025.
During the trial, applicants could be asked to pay bonds of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 dollars. Under the finalized rule, the lowest tier has been scrapped, while the 10,000- and 15,000-dollar levels remain. A new maximum bond of 20,000 dollars has been introduced.
African countries affected
Thirty of the 50 countries covered by the program are in Africa, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The measure means eligible applicants from those countries may be required to provide a refundable financial guarantee before obtaining visas for business or tourism, depending on an assessment by U.S. consular officers.
Aim and concerns
The State Department said the program is designed to reduce visa overstays, citing results from the pilot phase that it said demonstrated the bond requirement encouraged compliance with U.S. immigration rules.
However, immigration observers and tourism advocates argue the higher deposits could place travel beyond the reach of many prospective visitors, particularly from lower-income countries. They also warn the policy could reduce international tourism and affect businesses in U.S. destinations that rely heavily on foreign travelers.
Source;African news
