US Ambassador Outlines Visa Bond Policy and Entry Rules for Ugandans

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1252 EAT on Friday 6 February 2026

The United States government has announced sweeping changes to its visa policy affecting Ugandan nationals, introducing stricter entry requirements for non-immigrant travellers and temporarily suspending the issuance of immigrant visas, as Washington intensifies enforcement of its immigration laws.

The measures, outlined by US officials this week, are expected to affect Ugandans seeking to travel to the United States for tourism, business, study, and family reunification. Authorities say the changes are part of broader efforts to strengthen border controls and ensure compliance with visa conditions, though they are likely to disrupt travel plans and heighten uncertainty for applicants.

At a press briefing on Thursday, February 5, 2026, US Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp said the policy changes were intended to strengthen national security without disrupting legitimate travel between Uganda and the United States.

Ambassador Popp said the Trump administration was fully enforcing US immigration laws to protect national interests and ensure lawful travel, while continuing to value strong people-to-people relations with Uganda. He stressed that visa issuance remains discretionary.

Most non-immigrant visas issued to Ugandan citizens are now single-entry visas valid for three months, a policy introduced in July 2025 and now fully operational.

Under the new rules, travellers have up to three months from the date of visa issuance to enter the United States and are permitted only a single entry during that period.

Ambassador Popp confirmed that Uganda has been included in the expanded Visa Bond Pilot Program, which takes effect on January 21, 2026. The programme allows US authorities to require Ugandans applying for B-1/B-2 business or tourist visas to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 (about Shs55 million) before a visa is issued.

The bond, Popp said, is refunded in full if the traveller complies with visa conditions and leaves the United States within the authorised period.

He emphasised that the bond requirement will not apply retroactively and cautioned applicants against making any payments before attending a visa interview. Payment instructions, he said, will be issued only after a consular officer has confirmed that an applicant qualifies for the visa.

Separately, the US Department of State has temporarily suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Uganda, also effective January 21, 2026.

According to Popp, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the pause to allow for enhanced vetting of immigrant visa applicants, including assessments of eligibility and the risk of reliance on public assistance.

The suspension applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect nonimmigrant categories such as tourist, student, or skilled-worker visas. Applicants may continue submitting immigrant visa applications and attending interviews, and no previously issued visas have been cancelled.

US Consular Chief Tania Romanoff said the measures were partly driven by ongoing misuse of nonimmigrant visas by some Ugandan travellers.

She warned that overstaying or violating visa conditions could lead to deportation and permanent bans from future travel to the United States.

Romanoff also clarified that the length of stay in the US is determined by a Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry, not by the visa’s validity, and advised travellers to verify their authorised stay using the Department of Homeland Security’s I-94 system.

Providing false information during visa applications or interviews, she added, could result in permanent visa ineligibility and possible prosecution.

The US Embassy said it is working with Ugandan authorities to protect legitimate travel and maintain bilateral relations, noting that officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the briefing.

Ambassador Popp said strict adherence to visa rules by Ugandan travellers would help preserve lawful travel opportunities and reinforce the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

Source: NilePost

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