Home » America Travel News » Cuba Joins Dominica, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Venezuela And More Thirty-Two Countries In Facing Tougher US Visitor Visa Regulations And Increased Fees For Travelers
Published on
January 8, 2026
Starting January 21, 2026, Cuba, along with thirty-two other countries, will face heightened scrutiny and increased costs for U.S. visitor visas, as the U.S. government expands its controversial visa bond policy. This policy mandates that applicants from these nations post a refundable bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, aiming to deter visitors from overstaying their visas. With this expansion, travelers from these regions will face additional financial barriers, deepening the divide between nations with varying economic capacities and impacting global travel flows to the United States.
The United States has significantly expanded its visitor visa policy, affecting a wide array of countries, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. As of January 21, 2026, thirty-two additional countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Uganda, have been added to the list of nations whose citizens must comply with a new policy requiring the posting of a bond in order to obtain a B1/B2 visitor visa. The policy, which initially began as a pilot program in August 2025, has now been expanded and presents a new, costlier barrier for travelers from these nations. This move comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration strategy aimed at controlling the flow of travelers into the United States, enforcing stricter visa policies, and deterring overstays.
The new bond requirement mandates that individuals applying for U.S. visitor visas from these countries must pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the determination made during their visa interview. This fee must be paid online through the U.S. Treasury Department’s platform, marking another step in the U.S. government’s efforts to tighten control over foreign visitors. However, the bond is refundable, provided the applicant abides by the terms of the visa. The change has been met with criticism from human rights groups, which argue that the policy is discriminatory and adds financial burdens to travelers from less affluent nations.
The Expanded List of Affected Countries
The list now includes thirty-two additional nations, with many of them from regions where tourism and business travel play significant roles in local economies. The requirement is seen as particularly burdensome for countries that already face economic struggles or where obtaining a visa is an expensive and time-consuming process. Below are the countries that have been added to the list as of January 21, 2026:
CubaDominicaNigeriaUgandaZimbabweVenezuelaAlgeriaAngolaAntigua and BarbudaBangladeshBeninBurundiCabo Verde (Cape Verde)Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)DjiboutiDominicaFijiGabonKyrgyzstanNepalSenegalTajikistanTogoTongaTuvaluZambiaMalawiMauritaniaBotswanaSao Tome and PrincipeTanzaniaTurkmenistanGuineaGuinea-BissauCentral African Republic
This updated list increases the scrutiny that visitors from these countries will face when applying for a visitor visa. The decision to include these countries reflects the U.S. government’s desire to curb visa overstays, which it has identified as a significant challenge to the nation’s immigration system.
The Policy in Context: A Stronger Stance on Immigration
This visa bond requirement builds on a broader trend of increasingly aggressive U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration. By imposing higher fees and stricter visa controls, the U.S. government seeks to manage who enters the country and under what conditions. Over the past few years, the administration has prioritized visa revocations, deportations, and social media screenings to ensure that foreign nationals do not pose a threat to national security. This focus on immigration and border control aligns with the broader political agenda aimed at prioritizing domestic security concerns over the free movement of individuals.
The rationale provided by the U.S. government for the new visa bonds is to reduce the number of people who overstay their visas once they enter the country. With the bonds in place, the U.S. hopes that travelers from these countries will be financially incentivized to return to their home nations before the expiration of their visas. Although the bond is refundable, the process itself adds a level of complexity to obtaining a U.S. visa, particularly for travelers in low-income regions.
The Criticism and Concerns
The expanded visa bond policy has attracted sharp criticism from various quarters. Human rights organizations and advocacy groups have pointed out that such policies disproportionately affect citizens from developing countries, further restricting their access to travel opportunities. Critics argue that the requirement not only creates a financial barrier but also introduces an unfair system of discrimination based on nationality. They contend that the policy could result in people from poorer countries being penalized simply for seeking a chance to visit the U.S.
Some experts also worry that the policy could have a negative economic impact on tourism from countries where the bonds are required. For example, many travelers use the U.S. as a primary stopover for connecting flights to other global destinations. By making it harder and more expensive for these individuals to obtain a visa, the U.S. risks losing out on a large portion of international travelers who could have spent money in the U.S. economy, including on hospitality, retail, and entertainment.
Furthermore, the bond requirement could exacerbate existing inequalities in the international travel system, making it even more difficult for people from certain countries to access opportunities abroad. In particular, countries that are already struggling with high levels of poverty or political instability are now expected to meet the financial obligations of securing a U.S. visa, which could exclude entire segments of their populations from international travel.
Economic Impact on Affected Countries
The financial impact on travelers from countries affected by this policy cannot be overstated. For many individuals, coming up with the bond amount will be a significant challenge. In some nations, where the average income is low and the cost of living is high, this requirement may be entirely out of reach. For example, in some African countries, the amount required to post the bond could be equivalent to several years’ worth of salary for an average worker.
This burden could result in fewer people applying for U.S. visas, thus reducing the flow of international tourists and business travelers. For countries that rely on remittances from citizens working abroad, including in the U.S., this additional financial barrier could further limit economic opportunities.
A Changing Landscape for U.S. Tourism
This new policy, in conjunction with other recent visa restrictions, represents a shifting dynamic for U.S. tourism. The U.S. has long been a popular destination for tourists from around the world. However, by introducing policies that add complexity and cost to the visa process, the country risks alienating potential visitors and sending them elsewhere. The policy change also coincides with the global trend of rising competition in the tourism sector, as other countries ease visa restrictions to attract international tourists.
In the face of growing competition from destinations like Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the U.S. may find it increasingly difficult to retain its status as the world’s top travel destination. By making it more difficult and expensive for people from certain countries to visit, the U.S. risks not only diminishing its tourism sector but also its cultural influence on the global stage.
The decision to expand the U.S. visa bond requirement to an additional thirty-two countries will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences. For travelers from Cuba, Venezuela, Nigeria, Uganda, and other affected nations, the new policy presents an additional financial burden and a complicated bureaucratic hurdle. While the U.S. government argues that these measures are necessary to ensure national security and reduce visa overstays, the move has been widely criticized for its potential to create new barriers to global travel. As the U.S. government continues to reshape its immigration policies, the broader international community will likely watch closely to see how these changes impact not only U.S. tourism but also the country’s global standing.
Starting January 21, 2026, travelers from Cuba and thirty-two other countries will be required to post a bond for U.S. visitor visas, a move aimed at reducing visa overstays and increasing scrutiny of international visitors. This policy introduces a significant financial burden on applicants, further complicating access to the U.S. for citizens of these nations.
Ultimately, while these changes may deter some visitors, they also serve as a reminder of the growing tensions between national security concerns and the free movement of people in an increasingly interconnected world.
