US forcing some Pacific visitors to pay up to $27k bond

Tongan residents seeking to visit the United States now face a significant financial hurdle due to a permanent U.S. Visa Bond Program. The program, initially a pilot, was made permanent on August 3 and requires applicants from 50 countries, including Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, and Papua New Guinea, to pay a substantial bond.

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Some people have cried because they weren't able to travel to funerals.

Alisi Mo'ungaloa Afu, a Tongan travel agent with 15 years of experience, has witnessed clients become distressed, with some even crying over their inability to travel for important family events like funerals. The process of obtaining a U.S. visa is already costly for Tongans, often requiring travel to Fiji for interviews as the U.S. embassy in Tonga does not offer these services. The non-refundable $185 visa application fee adds to the expense.

The newly permanent bond program demands between $10,000 and $20,000, a sum that can be equivalent to an individual's annual income in Tonga. This amount is refundable only if the traveler adheres to all visa conditions. The U.S. State Department states the requirement applies regardless of where the application is submitted, affecting even Tongan or Fijian nationals residing in Australia if they use their Pacific Island passports.

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$US20k is what someone makes in a year

Tonga's Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, expressed deep disappointment with the program's permanence. He indicated plans to pursue diplomatic solutions to alleviate these travel restrictions, emphasizing the program's impact given the large Tongan diaspora in the U.S. According to the most recent U.S. census, approximately 78,000 Tongans reside in the United States, many of whom have family members back home.

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It's very close to home because of our large diaspora in places like California, Hawaii and Utah and we are actively working on remedying it.