Overview

• Mali’s foreign ministry announced it will require U.S. citizens to post bonds matching Washington’s $5,000–$10,000 amounts for business and tourist visas.
• The U.S. Embassy in Bamako says bond requirements for Malian applicants take effect October 23, with refunds issued if travelers depart on time.
• Under the pilot, payments are made through a U.S. Treasury portal, overstays or asylum filings forfeit the bond, and travel is limited to designated airports.
• Washington cites high visa overstay rates, pointing to DHS data showing more than 300,000 overstays in 2023, and says the pilot targets countries with elevated risk.
• Critics warn the added costs could deter legitimate travel, though State Department figures show fewer than 3,000 non-immigrant U.S. visas are issued to Malians each year.