Trump gets closer to NEW travel ban for two more countries as he takes $15K 'draconian' measure to stop visa cheats
It's a decision that could make the process unaffordable for aspiring visitors - and force them rethink their plans altogether.
The department outlined the new 'visa bond' initiative this week, which targets countries with high rates of visa overstays.
The list will first apply to nationals of Malawi and Zambia applying for a tourist visa, but could be amended throughout the program to consider other countries. The pair of African countries were targeted first because they have a high rate of unauthorized overstays.
According to State Department officials, the bond could reach as much as $15,000 per person, though officers will typically set the amount at $10,000 per adult and $5,000 per child. The amount will be determined during the visa interview.
The department adds that the bond payment will be returned if the applicants comply with all of the terms set in the visa.
The Daily Mail reached out to both embassies for a reaction to this move, and learned that they were not communicated with by either the White House or State Department on the changes.
The Republic of Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs Mulambo Haimbe, tells the Daily Mail, 'The Zambian government views this development with serious concern, given its potential economic implications on trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. This includes the unnecessary financial strain on Zambian Nationals.'
The Minister added, 'The decision is contrary to the spirit of the meeting held with His Excellency, Mr. Michael Gonzales, Ambassador of the United States of America to Zambia, at State House in Lusaka on July 9, 2025, which centered on exploring new pathways to deepen the enduring partnership between the two nations,' adding that they are now taking immediate steps to engage with the US government through diplomatic channels.
The Malawi office of the Ambassador also responded to the Daily Mail, saying, 'The Embassy has not been officially informed about this trending news. As such, the Embassy has no comment at this point.'
David Bier, director of immigration studies at the CATO Institute, told the Daily Mail the policy is 'incoherent' and amounts to an admission 'it will likely just ban people from coming, not just result in compliance.'
'There is no reason to impose such a draconian rule,' Bier added.
According to State Department officials, if nationals stay in the US past their set deadline, they will lose the money. However, if the visa holder applies and is denied admission at a US point of entry they will be reimbursed.
Visa holders from the two countries will have to arrive and leave from their choice of three airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
A state department spokesperson told the Daily Mail that this program was put into place to address national security and immigration compliance concerns, and that it does not restrict lawful travel to the United States.
The spokesperson added that the countries they identified are based on high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, as well as foreign policy considerations.
'This targeted, common-sense measure reinforces the administration's commitment to US immigration law while deterring visa overstays,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Tuesday.
According to the Department of Homeland Security's most recent data, nationals of Malawi and Zambia who traveled to the United States on nonimmigrant visas exceeded their authorized period of admission at higher rates.
Other countries with reported high overstay rates include Colombia, Brazil, Haiti, Ecuador and Spain.
Additional department data shows that, at the end of the fiscal year 2023, there were over 510,000 suspected in-country overstays, which represented 1.3% of the total expected departures.
This plan was announced as the Trump administration started tightening requirements for individuals applying for a visa, particularly for citizens of Africa.
Last week, the State department made the announcement that a significant number of visa renewal applicants may have to submit an additional interview in person as part of their application process.
The plan is set to be implemented on Aug. 20 and last until Aug. 5, 2026.
For citizens of countries that are enrolled in the visa waiver program, which allows travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days, the bond would not apply.
Both countries are landlocked nations in South Africa that face significant challenges related to poverty. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization, both Zambia and Malawi's population stands at about 21 million people each.
According to the US travel Association, tourism has already dropped—11.6% decline for overseas visitors in March as well as a 20% year-over-year decrease from Canada and Mexico—prompting industry warnings that such policies could cause further damage. Data projections shows the tourism industry is set to lose billions of dollars this year.
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