Sierra Leone Excluded as U.S. Introduces $15,000 Visa Bond for Travellers

Sierra Leone has been excluded from a new stringent United States visa bond pilot program that requires travelers from over 30 nations—including many West African neighbors – to pay up to $15,000 to secure a visitor visa.

The exclusion, however, appears to be a formality rather than a reprieve, as it coincides with the implementation of a separate, more severe total visa suspension for Sierra Leonean nationals.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of State released a list of countries whose nationals will now be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition for receiving a B1/B2 (tourist/business) visa.