US Imposes $15,000 Visa Bond on Mauritian Travellers

Mauritian citizens planning travel to the United States will soon be required to pay a financial bond of up to $15,000 (approximately MUR 693,000) to secure entry, following a hardening of American immigration policy.

The US State Department announced that from 2 April, the visa bond programme will expand to include 50 countries.

Under the new regulations, nationals from these territories must provide a guarantee ranging between $5,000 and $15,000 (MUR 231,000 to 693,000) before being granted B1 or B2 visas for business or tourism.

The bond is refundable provided the traveller adheres to visa conditions—primarily by departing the US within the permitted timeframe—or if the trip is cancelled.

Mauritius is among 12 new additions to the list, alongside the Seychelles, Tunisia, and several other nations including Cambodia and Ethiopia.

Government “Incomprehension”

The Mauritian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ritish Ramful, confirmed his ministry received official notification from the US Embassy on Wednesday 18 March.

Following immediate contact with the US chargé d’affaires, Mr Ramful expressed significant “incomprehension” regarding the decision.

“It was indicated to us that Mauritius is not being targeted individually, but that this measure is part of a global policy to discourage overstaying in the United States,” the Minister stated.

However, he challenged the logic of the inclusion, noting that the number of Mauritians travelling to the US is relatively low and overstay rates are “virtually negligible.”

Data Discrepancies

The dispute appears to centre on conflicting immigration data. According to Mr Ramful, US authorities initially claimed 250 Mauritians were in an irregular situation.

This figure was later revised down to 18 following a challenge from Mauritius.

Subsequent checks by the Passport and Immigration Office revealed the actual number of overstayers was just two. These findings were communicated to the US Embassy last month.

Official Protest

Mr Ramful has personally raised the matter with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, who reportedly expressed surprise at the inclusion of Mauritius and has committed to reviewing the data.

The Minister also highlighted the inclusion of other small states, such as the Seychelles, which he deemed difficult to justify.

He confirmed his intention to send a formal letter of protest to the American government.

Source: l”Express