MBABANE – The United States Embassy in Eswatini has announced that, beginning Wednesday, 20 August 2025, nationals of Malawi and Zambia applying for B1/B2 visitor visas will be required to post a visa bond before issuance.
According to the embassy’s notice, the measure falls under the U.S. Visa Bond Pilot, which targets countries identified with high overstay rates, weaknesses in screening and vetting systems, and concerns over citizenship-by-investment schemes that do not require residency. Foreign policy considerations also play a role in the selection of countries.
The Department of State noted that the list of affected countries may change during the course of the pilot programme. 
The B1/B2 visa category covers business and tourism travel to the United States, and the new bond requirement adds an extra condition for Malawian and Zambian applicants
