US visa bond applies only to business and tourism visas

The U.S. Embassy in Namibia has clarified that Namibian students travelling to the United States on F or M visas are not subject to the recently introduced visa bond requirement.



The embassy further stated that Namibians participating in U.S. government-sponsored exchanges, as well as other cultural and professional exchange programmes travelling on J visas, are also exempt from the bond.



The visa bond applies only to Namibian applicants seeking B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes, according to Ryan Bradeen, public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Namibia.



Bradeen explained that the bond programme — which requires a payment of nearly N$250 000 — is limited strictly to B1/B2 visa holders and stressed that the bond should not be regarded as a fee.



“The visa bond is refundable if travellers respect the terms of their U.S. visas,” Bradeen said. “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.”