Staff Reporter
THE United States (U.S.) Embassy in Namibia has clarified that Namibian students travelling to the U.S. on F or M visas are not subject to the visa bond requirement.
This comes after the U.S. introduced a temporary visa bond pilot programme that could require certain foreign nationals, including Namibians, to post a bond of up to US$15,000 (about N$250,000) when applying for B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas. The measure forms part of the U.S. government’s immigration and border management policies introduced by President Donald Trump.
Shedding more clarity on the subject, Ryan Bradeen, Public Affairs Officer within the U.S. Embassy in Namibia, explained that in addition to the exemption of Namibian students travelling to the U.S. on F or M visas, Namibian participants in U.S. government-sponsored exchanges and other cultural and professional exchanges who travel on J visas are also not subject to the visa bond requirement.
Bradeen stressed that the visa bond applies only to Namibian individuals applying for B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visas.
“We also take this opportunity to emphasise that the visa bond program implemented in Namibia, as well as 37 other countries, is part of a global pilot program. Please see the Countries Subject to Visa Bonds for the full list of countries currently included in the visa bond pilot program,” Bradeen said.
He added that the visa bond is not a fee but is refundable if travellers respect the terms of their U.S. visas.
“Upon return home, the visa bond will be automatically cancelled and the money refunded to the traveller if all visa requirements have been met (including not working in the United States and departing on time),” Bradeen said.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: File
