Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Zimbabweans applying for business and tourism visas will have to pay a bond of up to US$15 000.
This follows the addition of Zimbabwe to the list of countries whose citizens must pay the visa bond.
In a statement on Tuesday, the US State Department said Zimbabwe has been added to the list of countries whose citizens applying for non-immigrant visas must pay the bond under a new pilot programme.
The State Department said the requirements are effective from January 21, 2026.
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“The Department of State has identified nationals from these countries as needing visa bonds,” reads the statement.
The visa bond requirement applies to those seeking B1/B2 (business or tourism) visitor visas.
The visa bond fee ranges from US$5 000, US$10 000 or US$15 000 and is determined at the time of the interview for the visa.
“Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5 000, $10 000, or $15 000,” the State Department said.
It said the visa bond requirements were grounded in US immigration law.
“Visa Bond requirements are outlined in INA Section 221(g)(3) and the Temporary Final Rule (TFR) establishing the pilot programme,” the statement said, adding that “visa overstay rates are based on the B1/B2 overstay rates per the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.”
