Antigua and Barbuda seeks US review of visa restrictions and bond program

Antigua and Barbuda is making a concerted diplomatic push to have the United States reconsider its recent visa restrictions and inclusion in the US Visa Bond Programme. Prime Minister Gaston Browne has directly appealed to President Donald Trump, while the nation's embassy in Washington has lodged a formal diplomatic note with the US Secretary of State.

The government's appeal hinges on the argument that Antigua and Barbuda has already implemented significant reforms to address US concerns regarding information sharing, identity verification, and document security. These measures include stricter residency requirements for the Citizenship by Investment Programme, enhanced biometric cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security, and continued collaboration with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Furthermore, Antigua and Barbuda points to its favorable statistics, such as a visa overstay rate of just over one percent and no citizens seeking refugee status in the US. The nation also emphasizes its standing as a stable parliamentary democracy and an upper-middle-income economy, as recognized by the World Bank. Prime Minister Browne stressed that the government's aim is not confrontation but ensuring decisions affecting its citizens are based on accurate information and the substantial steps taken in cooperation with the US.

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The Government’s objective is not confrontation. It is to ensure that decisions affecting the people of Antigua and Barbuda are based upon accurate information and upon the substantial steps our country has taken in close cooperation with the United States to address every legitimate concern that has been raised. We believe the time is now right for a review.