SAN DIEGO, United States (CMC) – The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has strongly condemned the expansion of the United States (US) Visa Bond Programme, warning that it discriminatorily impacts Caribbean and other immigrants.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the policy requires certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants to post financial bonds ranging from US$5,000 to US$20,000 as a condition of entry.

While presented as a visa compliance measure, Jozef said that the policy creates “a wealth-based barrier to lawful travel and raises serious concerns regarding fairness, transparency and discrimination”.

Jozef said that by conditioning mobility on the ability to produce thousands of dollars upfront, the policy disproportionately impacts individuals from countries facing economic hardship and humanitarian challenges.

“This policy is discriminatory in both its design and its practical impact. Access to lawful travel should not depend on whether an individual can afford a substantial financial bond. This creates a system where mobility is determined by wealth rather than eligibility.”

She said the financial burden of this policy is especially concerning given economic realities in the United States.

“Millions of Americans lack sufficient savings to cover unexpected expenses as low as US$500.00, and a similar requirement imposed on US travellers abroad would place international travel out of reach for many.

“A policy that would be viewed as exclusionary if applied to Americans should not become acceptable when imposed on travellers from Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions of the Global South,” the HBA executive director said.

She said while the US Department of State has not issued a final list of countries subject to the expanded programme, the initial Visa Bond Pilot Programme provides insight into its potential impact.

Jozef said the countries included in the pilot programme were concentrated in Africa and other regions with predominantly Black and brown populations, “raising serious concerns about disparate impact and the use of nationality-based classifications in immigration policy.”

She noted that those lists have grown to include approximately 50 countries, with a significant concentration in Africa, as well as nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia.

Jozef said countries added in recent updates include, among others, Ethiopia, Lesotho Mozambique, and several other African and Global South nations, alongside select countries in Latin America and Asia.

“The geographic pattern is clear: the policy overwhelmingly impacts countries with majority Black and brown populations. This policy cannot be separated from its impact. When a policy disproportionately burdens communities of colour around the world, it demands greater transparency, accountability and review.”

Jozef further warned that the Visa Bond Programme raises “significant concerns” under the US Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including whether the government has provided adequate justification, established transparent selection criteria, or considered less restrictive alternatives.

Jozef said the HBA is urging the State Department to suspend implementation of the programme pending further review; provide transparent criteria for country selection and application; assess the policy’s disparate impacts on affected communities; and ensure visa policies uphold “fairness, due process and equal treatment”.

Jozef also urged the US Congress to exercise its oversight authority by organising a hearing on this matter; restrict funding through appropriations for the execution of this programme; introduce legislation that would limit the Secretary of State’s authority to impose nationality-based financial burdens; and direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent review of the Visa Bond Program’s “effectiveness, legality and disparate impact.”

“As Haiti continues to face profound humanitarian and security challenges, HBA emphasises that additional financial barriers to lawful travel will disproportionately affect Haitian families, businesses and communities,” Jozef warned.

The State Department said the Visa Bond Programme finalises the temporary final rule that went into effect on August 20, 2025, which launched a 12-month long Visa Bond Pilot Programme, and establishes a permanent visa bond programme.