The United States government has placed The Gambia on a new list of countries, whose nationals must pay a heavy visa bond, before traveling on a visitor’s visa to the US.
The rule, which comes into effect on October 11th this year, applies to Gambian citizens applying for B1/B2 visas, the most common category for tourism and business travel.
Under the policy, Gambians who are found eligible for a visa will still need to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the decision of the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. The applicant must also fill out a U.S. Department of Homeland Security form known as I-352, and the payment is only accepted through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov website.
The State Department has stressed that applicants should never use third-party services to pay as the U.S. government will not take responsibility for lost funds.
The Department of State says the decision to introduce the new policy is premised on the overstay rate for Gambian travelers as listed in the Department of Homeland Security’s 2024 Overstay Report, updated in July this year. The same requirement has also been placed on Malawi and Zambia, starting August 20, 2025.
The US government clarified that posting a bond does not guarantee an automatic issuance of visa as the consular officer still has the final say.
“If someone pays before being instructed to do so, that money will not be refunded. If a visa is approved, the traveler will also have to follow strict conditions, including entering and exiting the United States only through three airports: Boston Logan, New York JFK, or Washington Dulles. Anyone, who uses a different airport, risks being denied entry or recorded as having left improperly,” said the US government, adding: “The bond will be returned if a Gambian traveler respects the terms of their visa, including leaving the United States on time, not traveling at all before the visa expires, or being denied entry at the airport. In these cases, the money is automatically refunded.”
However, the US government said the rules are also strict on breaches.
“If a Gambian stays beyond the time allowed or tries to change status inside the United States such as applying for asylum, the Department of Homeland Security can decide the bond is broken and keep the money. Such cases will be reviewed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,” it explained.
For Gambians, the new policy adds a heavy cost and more hurdles to visiting America, a country with deep ties to the Gambian diaspora. It also raises questions for families and businesses who rely on regular travel.
With the October deadline approaching, Gambians planning trips to the U.S. will now have to brace up for this extra financial requirement and stricter conditions.
