The United States has made permanent a visa bond program requiring travelers from 50 countries, including 30 in Africa, to pay a refundable bond of up to US$20,000 before obtaining a business or tourist visa.
African countries affected include:
1) Nigeria 
2) Algeria 
3) Angola 
4) Benin 
5) Botswana 
6) Burundi 
7) Cabo Verde 
8)The Central African Republic 
9) Côte d’Ivoire 
10) Djibouti 
11) Ethiopia 
12) Gabon 
13) The Gambia 
14) Guinea 
15) Guinea-Bissau 
16) Lesotho 
17) Malawi 
18) Mauritania 
19) Mauritius 
20) Mozambique 
21) Namibia 
22) São Tomé and PrÃncipe 
23) Senegal 
24) Seychelles 
25) Tanzania 
26) Togo 
27) Tunisia 
28) Uganda 
29) Zambia 
30) Zimbabwe 
Under the policy, the bond will be returned if visitors leave the United States before their visas expire and fully comply with immigration regulations. However, travelers who overstay or violate the terms of their visas will forfeit the US$20,000 deposit.
The policy is aimed at strengthening compliance with U.S. visa regulations.
