New U.S. Visa Regulations Introduce Bond Requirement and Restrictions for Ugandan Applicants
KAMPALA — The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has announced a series of significant changes to U.S. visa policy, implementing new requirements and restrictions that will impact Ugandan nationals and other applicants.
The most notable change is a new bond requirement for Ugandan citizens applying for B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas. Effective January 21, 2026, applicants found otherwise eligible for these visas must post a bond of up to $15,000. The embassy emphasized that the bond should only be paid after specific instructions from a consular officer and not through any third-party website. The visa cannot be issued until the bond is paid, a rule that applies regardless of where the application is submitted.
In a separate move also effective January 21, the U.S. Department of State has paused the issuance of all immigrant visas to nationals of countries, including Uganda, identified as having a high rate of immigrants collecting U.S. public assistance. Applicants may still submit applications and attend interviews, but visas will not be issued under this pause.
The embassy also issued guidance for applicants of certain nonimmigrant visas. Those applying for H-1B, F, M, or J visas are now instructed to set all social media account privacy settings to ‘public’ to facilitate necessary vetting of their identity and admissibility.
These changes coincide with the impending enforcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The proclamation suspends or limits entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries, as well as individuals using travel documents from the Palestinian Authority. Affected applicants may still apply but could be found ineligible.
Additionally, the Department of State has immediately paused all visa issuances for Diversity Visa (lottery) applicants.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy reiterated that “a visa is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right,” and urged all travelers to understand and follow U.S. visa terms to help maintain legitimate travel pathways.
Applicants are strongly advised to schedule interviews at the embassy in their country of residence or nationality, apply well in advance of any planned travel, and not book flights before obtaining a visa. All visa application fees are non-refundable.
For further details, applicants are directed to visit the official U.S. Department of State travel website at travel.state.gov or use the embassy’s Visa Navigator tool for Uganda-specific inquiries.
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