Mali has announced it will require U.S. nationals to pay visa bonds of up to $10,000 for business and tourist visas, mirroring a recent move by the U.S. government. This decision follows the Trump administration’s visa bond pilot program, which included Mali to tackle visa overstays, and is set to take effect on October 23. Mali’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. policy as a “unilateral decision” violating bilateral agreements and introduced the reciprocal measure based on the principle of reciprocity.
The U.S. policy demands bonds refundable upon legal departure and targets travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates. This move is part of broader immigration tightening by former President Trump. Similar bond requirements were announced for Zambia and Malawi, with Zambia calling the policy an “unnecessary financial strain.”
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