Seychelles added to US visa bond list: A painful wake-up call for our nation |20 March 2026

Seychelles added to US visa bond list: A painful wake-up call for our nation

In a decision that has shocked our small island nation, the United States has added Seychelles to its controversial Visa Bond Pilot Program.

From April 2, 2026, every Seychellois applying for a B-1 business or B-2 tourism visa must post a bond of up to US $15,000, money paid upfront, even if it is later refunded.

For a country of just 100,000 people, this feels like more than policy. It feels like a public label: “You are a risk. You are a burden.”

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Maarco Francis

Leader of the Seychelles United Movement

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Seychelles NATION newspaper.