U.S. Drops Mali from Controversial Visa Bond List After Swift Retaliation

The United States has quietly removed Mali from its list of countries required to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000, following Bamako’s immediate retaliatory measure imposing a $10,000 visa bond on American travelers.

An updated notice from the U.S. Department of State published on 23 October shows Mali’s removal from the list, which now includes only Malawi, Zambia, The Gambia, Tanzania, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe. No explanation was given for the change.

The visa bond programme, introduced as a temporary pilot, allows U.S. consular officers to demand refundable deposits ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 from certain B-1 and B-2 visa applicants, primarily from countries with high visa overstay rates.

Mali had been listed for inclusion on October 8, with implementation set for October 23. But just days later, on October 11, the Malian government announced a reciprocal bond requirement for American citizens, a move widely viewed as an assertive act of diplomatic pushback.

The U.S. reversal marks a rare instance of Washington backtracking in the face of African resistance. Analysts see it as a tactical retreat aimed at avoiding an unnecessary diplomatic clash amid renewed American efforts to strengthen ties with Africa.

Critics of the visa bond scheme continue to describe it as discriminatory and burdensome, arguing that it penalizes travelers from low-income nations while doing little to address immigration concerns.

Mali has yet to confirm whether it will lift its reciprocal bond policy in response to Washington’s move.