By Diana N. Kintu
The United States Embassy in Uganda has announced significant changes to its visa policy affecting Ugandan nationals, including reduced validity for most non-immigrant visas and the expansion of the Visa Bond Pilot Programme. The new measures are aimed at strengthening lawful travel, enhancing national security, and protecting legitimate exchanges between Uganda and the United States.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala, the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Mr William W. Popp, said the policy updates were part of broader efforts by the U.S. Government to ensure compliance with immigration laws while maintaining strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Under the revised policy, most non-immigrant visas issued to Ugandan citizens will now be single-entry visas valid for a period of three months. This marks a significant change from the previous arrangement, under which Ugandan applicants commonly received visas valid for at least two years with multiple entries.
Ambassador Popp emphasised that possession of a non-immigrant visa does not guarantee unrestricted access to the United States. “A non-immigrant visa is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right,” he said. “Remaining longer than authorised, violating the terms of admission, or misusing a visa can have serious and lasting consequences.”
He further advised travellers to ensure they use their visas within the validity period and strictly adhere to the length of stay authorised by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon arrival at U.S. ports of entry. The authorised duration of stay is determined independently of the visa validity and is clearly indicated on the traveller’s admission record.
The U.S. Embassy cautioned that failure to comply with visa conditions, including overstaying or engaging in unauthorised activities, could lead to severe penalties. These include deportation, immediate revocation of the visa, and permanent ineligibility for future travel to the United States.
In addition to the revised visa validity, the Embassy announced the expansion of the Visa Bond Pilot Programme to include Uganda. Under this programme, certain applicants seeking B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas may be required to post a refundable bond of up to USD 15,000 (approximately Shs54 million) before their visas are issued.
According to the Embassy, the bond serves as a compliance assurance mechanism and is refunded once the traveller demonstrates adherence to visa conditions, including timely departure from the United States. However, the bond may be forfeited if the traveller overstays, violates U.S. immigration or other laws, or attempts to change immigration status unlawfully while in the country.
Consular officials also issued a strong warning against visa misuse and fraudulent applications. The U.S. Consular Chief in Uganda, Ms Tania Romanoff, stressed that providing false or misleading information during visa interviews carries serious consequences.
“Individuals who submit inaccurate information or misuse their visas may face permanent bans from travelling to the United States and possible prosecution under both Ugandan and U.S. law,” Ms Romanoff said. She added that violations apply equally to all categories of travellers, including international students, who risk visa denial, revocation, and deportation if found in breach of U.S. immigration regulations.
Despite the stricter measures, U.S. officials reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strong people-to-people ties between Uganda and the United States. They highlighted ongoing exchanges in tourism, education, business, cultural cooperation, and family visits as central to the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
The Embassy encouraged Ugandan travellers to familiarise themselves fully with U.S. visa requirements, verify their authorised period of stay using the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) I-94 website, and rely on official sources for accurate and up-to-date travel information before making travel arrangements.
Officials reiterated that compliance with visa conditions not only protects individual travellers but also supports continued opportunities for legitimate travel and cooperation between Uganda and the United States.