Antigua Travelers Face New US Visa Bonds as Passport Scrutiny Tightens

Antigua and Barbuda nationals are now among those who can be required to post a refundable bond of US$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 to obtain a US B-1/B-2 visitor visa, under a State Department visa-bond pilot last updated in May 2026. The move follows Washington’s decision earlier this year to cut visa validity for several Eastern Caribbean states to three months, citing scrutiny of citizenship-by-investment programs. For families who travel to the US for work, study, and reunions, the practical cost of a single trip can now jump sharply — and the bond does not guarantee a visa. It is a direct mobility hit that diaspora households should budget for before booking.

Source: US Department of State; Immigrant Invest; Travel And Tour World.