3 weeks ago
6
DAREECE POLO
Senior Reporter
The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (Amcham T&T) is expressing serious concern over a new visa bond policy being implemented by the United States, which could require certain applicants to post bonds of up to US$15,000 in order to enter the country.
Yesterday, the US Department of State announced that Zambia and Malawi, both located in southern Africa, will be the first countries subjected to the new measure.
The initiative targets applicants from selected nations seeking B1/B2 visitor visas, requiring them to pay a refundable bond of US$5,000, US$10,000, or US$15,000 at the time of their visa interview.
The full bond is returned if the applicant departs the US before their visa expires. Refunds are also issued if the visa is denied or cancelled, or if travel does not occur. However, if the visitor overstays their visa, applies for asylum, or seeks other immigration-related relief while in the US, the bond would be forfeited.
The policy is set to take effect from August 20, with more countries potentially being added in the future.
Although T&T is not currently affected, Amcham T&T is urging caution. The organisation emphasised that the policy should not apply to T&T nationals, citing the country’s strong compliance record.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, T&T has one of the lowest overstay rates in the Americas—just 2.43 per cent.
Amcham T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie said the chamber has already initiated dialogue with the US Embassy and remains cautiously optimistic. However, he issued a reminder to citizens about the importance of abiding by visa conditions.
“The US continues to be an important and attractive market for us for a number of reasons. Of course, to do business, to study, for tourism and the like. I mean, I made a joke with so many people recently that it felt like the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was like the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, because half of Trinidad seemed to have been at the last Coldplay concert. So, you know, we hope that that kind of relationship will continue and people will go do what they have to do and come back home.”
Despite the potential implications for travel, Tewarie declined to speculate on whether the policy might disrupt trade or tourism ties, noting the importance of maintaining constructive diplomatic engagement.
“We have to just be mindful that it is one of the policy measures that he (US President Donald Trump) and the administration are contemplating and continue to engage in a positive manner with the US administration, because the US is a friendly country, the US is an ally in many ways, it is a critical trading partner, it’s a critical member of the international community for collaboration on a number of things. And once we continue to have a strong, proactive, and friendly relationship, I wouldn’t even want to speculate on whether we’d be included or not.”
Tewarie said the chamber issued a statement late Monday after fielding concerns from its membership, which prompted further engagement with US officials. He noted that the embassy was already aware of T&T’s low overstay rate.
He also stressed that bilateral relations between T&T and the United States remain strong, even amid evolving policy changes.
“I think most of the signs out of the new administration, you know, have been generally positive. But some of the impacts that we feel, such as the sanctions on Venezuelan petroleum, are part of a bigger, broader global agenda, at least for the time being. But I think that from everything that has been said and the continued cooperation on so many fronts, relations continue to be very good between Trinidad and Tobago and the US, broadly speaking. And we expect that that would continue.”
Efforts to reach Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers for comment were unsuccessful up to late yesterday.
English (US) ·