The government of Antigua and Barbuda has initiated formal diplomatic communications with United States authorities following the unexpected announcement of a visa bond pilot program affecting certain applicants. Cabinet officials have moved to reassure citizens that the measure applies exclusively to a narrow category of new visa seekers and does not impact current visa holders.
Contrary to initial public concerns, the refundable bond requirement represents an experimental initiative rather than a blanket policy change. The Cabinet emphasized that posting bond neither ensures automatic visa approval nor indicates certain denial, characterizing the financial guarantee as one component of a broader assessment process.
Government representatives expressed disappointment that Caribbean partners, including Antigua and Barbuda, received no prior consultation regarding the program’s implementation. This lack of advance notice contributed to significant confusion throughout the region regarding the policy’s scope and implications.
While acknowledging isolated incidents of visa overstays or unpaid public expenses by citizens abroad, officials highlighted the nation’s generally strong compliance record. Statistics indicate Antigua and Barbuda maintains one of the region’s lowest rates of visa violations and has consistently demonstrated cooperative immigration practices with US authorities.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue high-level diplomatic engagement, including the submission of formal diplomatic correspondence. These efforts aim to ensure equitable treatment for Antiguan and Barbudan passport holders and clarify the limited application of the new bond requirement.