Advertisement
Ugandans to pay at least Ksh640,000 bond to travel to the US
23rd January, 2026 10:02 AM
Ugandan visa applicants who qualify for a business and travel permit visa (B1/B2) will now be required to pay a bond of at least Ksh640,000 ($5000).
Through a statement posted on Friday, January 23, 2026, the official Ugandan US embassy stated on X that Uganda had joined the visa bond pilot program, effective from Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
They further added that the bond would be returned to the traveller should they comply with the conditions of the visa and leave the United States before their stay expires.
“Effective January 21, 2026, Uganda joined the visa bond pilot program. Visa applicants who are otherwise found eligible for a business/tourist (B1/B2) visa for travel to the United States will be required to post a bond before the visa can be issued”
“The bond will be returned to the traveller if he or she complies with all conditions of the visa and departs the United States before the period of admission expires.” The Embassy wrote.
US Embassy website
According to the official US Embassy website, any citizen travelling to Uganda on the stated visa will have to pay a bond of between $5,000 and $15,000 (Ksh640,000 and Ksh 1,900,000).
The exact amount they are to pay would be determined and communicated during the visa interview.
Information on the website also states that the bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
“Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview. The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352. Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of the place of application.”
“A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned,” an excerpt from the website reads.
