The US government has introduced new visa rules for Ugandans, effective January 21, 2026. US Ambassador William Popp and Consular Chief Tania Romanoff explained the new US visa rules for Ugandans at a US Visa Policy Updates Press Conference.
Here are the key changes:
Visa Bond Requirement: Ugandans applying for B1/B2 visitor visas must post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 (approximately Shs18 million, Shs36 million, and Shs54 million).
Eligibility: The bond requirement applies to non-immigrant visitor visas for tourism, business, or family visits.
Payment: Pay online through (link unavailable) after receiving instructions from a consular officer.
Refund: Bond is refunded if you leave the US on time, don’t travel on the visa, or are denied entry.
Immigrant Visa Pause: The US has temporarily paused issuing immigrant visas for Ugandans, affecting family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity immigrant visas.
Non-Immigrant Visas: Tourist, student, and skilled worker visas remain unaffected.
Single-Entry Visas: Most non-immigrant visas issued to Ugandan citizens are now single-entry and valid for three months.
It should be remembered that paying the bond doesn’t guarantee visa issuance. Ugandans are also urged to ensure that they comply with visa terms to avoid forfeiting the bond, and also advised to enter and exit the US through designated ports (Boston Logan, JFK, or Washington Dulles airports).
Ambassador William W. Popp’s Remarks at the U.S. Visa Policy Updates Press Conference February 5, 2026
The Trump Administration continues to put America and its interests first by fully enforcing U.S. immigration laws and ensuring lawful travel through our visa process. The United States and Uganda share a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and people-to-people ties, with many Ugandans traveling to the United States each year for tourism, business, study, and family visits. While these exchanges are valued, the United States is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.
A nonimmigrant visa is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right, and remaining longer than authorized, violating the terms and conditions of the nonimmigrant admission, or misusing a nonimmigrant visa can have serious, lasting consequences. By understanding and following U.S. nonimmigrant visa terms, Ugandan travelers help keep legitimate travel open and strengthen the enduring relationship between our two countries.
As we shared with you in our July 2025 press conference, nonimmigrant visa validity for nationals of many countries changed, including for Uganda. Most visas for Ugandan citizens are for single entry and will be valid for 3 months. The United States government values working with Ugandan authorities to protect legitimate travel. We appreciate the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joining us for this Press Conference today.
As of January 21, 2026 the Trump Administration expanded the Visa Bond Pilot Program to additional countries, including Uganda, based on a range of immigration risk factors. Ugandans who are otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) nonimmigrant visa are now required to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 U.S. dollars before the visa can be issued. The visa bond requirement is not retroactive and is fully refunded to travelers who comply with terms and conditions of the U.S. visa, admission at a port of entry, and the visa bond.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has temporarily paused the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Uganda, effective January 21, 2026. Secretary of State Rubio has instituted this pause until we can ensure that new immigrants have been vetted to the maximum degree to ensure their eligibility for a U.S. visa, including that they will not use public assistance. This action applies to the issuance of immigrant visas only. It does not apply to nonimmigrant visas, such as those for tourists, students, skilled workers and their families.
Consular Chief Tania Romanoff’s Remarks
We are still seeing Ugandans misusing their nonimmigrant visas to the United States. If an individual uses a U.S. nonimmigrant visa to travel to the United States and misuses their visa, they may be subject to removal and ineligible for visas and future travel to the United States.
When you arrive at the United States port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will inform you how long you can stay in the U.S., based on the type of your nonimmigrant visa. If you remain longer than authorized (overstay), you could be removed from the U.S. (deported) and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future.
Individuals who intentionally provide inaccurate information on visa applications or during interviews will not get a visa and may be permanently ineligible to enter the United States. They may also face criminal prosecution under Ugandan and U.S. law. As Secretary Rubio stated: “Violators of U.S. law – including international students – face visa denial or revocation, and deportation.”
U.S. business and tourist nonimmigrant visas are now issued as single-entry visas with a three-month validity, meaning travelers have three months from the date of issuance to travel to the United States and apply for admission to the U.S. and may apply for admission only once during the validity of the nonimmigrant visa. The period of admission is determined by the CBP officer at the port of entry making it essential for travelers to confirm their authorized stay and depart on time. DHS maintains an I-94 website where travelers can confirm their period of admission.
Here is some more information on the visa bond. Firstly – it is important that people do NOT pay the bond before their interview. If the consular officer finds the applicant qualified for a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa, then they will explain how to pay the bond and the dollar amount of the bond.
Visa bond compliance is straightforward: the bond is automatically canceled and fully refunded when a traveler follows U.S. visa terms—by leaving the United States on time, not using the visa before it expires, or being denied entry at the port—while bonds may be forfeited if the Department of Homeland Security determines the traveler remained longer than authorized (overstayed), violated any U.S. law while visiting the U.S., remained in the United States unlawfully, or sought to change status, including asylum.
Regarding the immigrant visa pause, immigrant visa applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule visa interviews. No previously issued immigrant visas have been revoked. Tourist, business, student, and other nonimmigrant visas remain unaffected.
Away from the visa changes, you can read a factcheck report on if President Donald Trump has really invited Bobi Wine to White House for talks on removing Museveni, as reported Here.
