The U.S. State Department confirmed on October 23, 2025, that Mali was no longer subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program, which requires certain nationals applying for short-term B-1/B-2 visitor visas to post refundable financial guarantees of up to $15,000. The program, introduced under the Immigration and Nationality Act, targets countries with high visa overstay rates.
Mali had been added to the list on October 8, 2025, with the bond requirement scheduled to take effect on October 23. However, Bamako swiftly retaliated by imposing identical visa bond requirements on U.S. citizens seeking entry into Mali. The reciprocal move prompted Washington to reconsider, and Mali was quietly removed from the list on the very day the measure was due to be enforced.
The episode highlights the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the visa bond program, which has been criticized by African governments as discriminatory and damaging to bilateral relations. Other countries still subject to the program include Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia.
Analysts note that while the program is framed as a tool to curb overstays, its application has disproportionately affected African nations, raising concerns about fairness and the potential for retaliatory measures. The removal of Mali is seen as a sign that U.S. policymakers are willing to adjust when faced with diplomatic pushback.
For Mali, the reversal is being viewed domestically as a diplomatic win, reinforcing its stance that African nations should not be subjected to unilateral restrictions without consequence. For Washington, it underscores the delicate balance between immigration enforcement and maintaining constructive international partnerships.
BCEAO tower, Bamako, Mali Picture by jst
Sources: BAL Immigration News; Nepyork; Pan-Atlantic Kompass; Business Insider Africa; U.S. State Department.
