The United States, under the Trump administration, has introduced a Visa Bond Pilot program requiring citizens from Ethiopia and six other African nations, along with six non-African countries, to post bonds of up to Ksh1.9 million ($15,000) for visa applications.

• 12 countries have been added to the list, including Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, the Seychelles, and Tunisia.
• The U.S. Department of State aims to reduce visa overstays, with the program effective from April 2.
• While Kenya is not on this specific bond list, Kenyan applicants face new fees and enhanced vetting, including social media history disclosure.