‘Money I’ll never have’: $15K US visa bond halts Malawians’ American dreams
Summary
A student from Malawi, Tamala Chunda, who earned a scholarship to study in the United States, faces a major obstacle due to a new US visa bond requirement. This rule mandates certain visa applicants from Malawi, like Chunda, to pay a bond that many in his country cannot afford.Key Facts
- Tamala Chunda is a student from Malawi awarded a scholarship to the University of Dayton in Ohio, USA.
- The US State Department introduced a program requiring visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia to pay bonds up to $15,000.
- The bond is meant to reduce visa overstays, though Malawians have a lower overstay rate than some other African nations without such requirements.
- The program was first proposed during the Trump administration.
- The average income in Malawi is significantly lower than the bond amount, making it unaffordable for most citizens.
- Critics argue the bond acts as a financial barrier rather than merely a security measure.
- The US embassy in Malawi states that the bond program targets business and tourist visas, not student visas directly.
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