Ugandans applying for temporary visit and tourism visas to the United States of America will now be required to post a visa bond, following a new policy introduced by the U.S. Department of State under a pilot program aimed at addressing visa overstays.
Uganda is among over 40 countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, whose nationals will be subject to the visa bond requirement starting January 21, 2026. The measure applies to applicants seeking B1 and B2 visas, which cover short term business travel, tourism, and family visits.
A visa bond is a financial guarantee intended to ensure that a visa holder complies with the terms of their stay in the United States, particularly by departing the country on or before the authorized date.
The requirement is grounded in Section 221(g)(3) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and is implemented through a Temporary Final Rule establishing the pilot visa bond program.
Under the new policy, any Ugandan national who is otherwise eligible for a B1 or B2 visa must post a bond of either USD 5000, USD 10,000, or USD 15000.
The exact amount is determined by a U.S. consular officer at the time of the visa interview, based on an assessment of individual risk factors. In practice, many applicants are expected to be required to post bonds of up to ten thousand dollars.
Applicants who are instructed to post a bond must complete Department of Homeland Security Form I 352, also known as the Immigration Bond form.
The U.S. government has emphasized that applicants should not attempt to submit the form or pay any bond amount unless they are explicitly directed to do so by a consular officer during the visa process.
Once directed, applicants will receive a direct link to make payment through Pay.gov, the official online payment platform of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Payments must be made only through this platform, and applicants are strongly warned against using third party websites or intermediaries. The U.S. government has stated that it bears no responsibility for funds paid outside its official systems.
Posting a visa bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. If an applicant pays bond related fees without proper authorization from a consular officer, those funds will not be refunded.
As a condition of the bond, Ugandan visa holders who are required to post a visa bond must enter and exit the United States only through designated ports of entry. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in denied entry or a departure that is not properly recorded, which could lead to bond forfeiture.
The designated ports of entry are Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport. These port restrictions have been in effect since August 20, 2025 and apply regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
The visa bond will be automatically cancelled and refunded if U.S. authorities record that the visa holder departed the United States on or before the date they were authorized to stay.
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A refund will also be issued if the visa holder does not travel to the United States before the visa expires, or if the visa holder applies for admission at a U.S. port of entry but is denied entry.
Visa overstay data used to justify the bond requirement is drawn from the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry and Exit Overstay Report, which tracks B1 and B2 overstay rates by country.
If there is evidence that a visa holder may have violated the terms of the bond, the Department of Homeland Security will refer the case to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for review.
Situations that may trigger a bond breach include departing the United States after the authorized stay has expired, remaining in the country beyond the permitted period without departing, or applying to adjust immigration status, including seeking asylum, while in the United States under a bonded B1 or B2 visa. If a breach is confirmed, the bond may be forfeited in full.
The U.S. government says the pilot program is designed to encourage compliance with immigration laws, reduce visa overstays, and assess whether financial guarantees can improve adherence to visa conditions.
For Ugandans planning to travel to the United States for tourism or short term business from 2026 onward, the new requirement introduces a significant financial and procedural obligation, making careful preparation and strict compliance with visa conditions more important than ever.
Countries Subject to the Visa Bond Requirement (Grouped by Effective Date):
August 20, 2025: Malawi, Zambia
October 11–23, 2025: The Gambia (October 11, 2025), Mauritania (October 23, 2025), Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025), Tanzania (October 23, 2025.
January 1, 2026: Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Turkmenistan
January 21, 2026: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivorie, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
