US envoy warns on new visa policy violation

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Individuals who intentionally provide inaccurate information on visa applications or during interviews may be permanently ineligible to enter the US, William Popp, the US ambassador to Uganda, has warned.

In a statement issued on February 5, 2026, during media engagement in Kampala, Popp explained that if an individual uses a US non-immigrant visa to travel to the US and misuses their visa, they may be subject to removal and ineligible for visas and future travel to the US. Popp reported that some Ugandans are still misusing their non-immigrant visas to the US.

US Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp addressing the press on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at the embassy house in Kampala. (Photo by David Lukiiza)

Margaret Kafeero, Head of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressing the media on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at the embassy house in Kampala. (Photo by David Lukiiza)

He also stressed that "a non-immigrant visa is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right, and remaining longer than authorised, violating the terms and conditions of the non-immigrant admission, or misusing a non-immigrant visa can have serious, lasting consequences."

Read full statement below

The Trump Administration continues to put America and its interests first by fully enforcing US immigration laws and ensuring lawful travel through our visa process.

The United States and Uganda share a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and people-to-people ties, with many Ugandans traveling to the United States each year for tourism, business, study, and family visits.

While these exchanges are valued, the United States is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.

A nonimmigrant visa is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right, and remaining longer than authorised, violating the terms and conditions of the nonimmigrant admission, or misusing a nonimmigrant visa can have serious, lasting consequences.

By understanding and following US non-immigrant visa terms, Ugandan travellers help keep legitimate travel open and strengthen the enduring relationship between our two countries.

As we shared with you in our July 2025 press conference, non-immigrant visa validity for nationals of many countries changed, including for Uganda. Most visas for Ugandan citizens are for single entry and will be valid for 3 months.

The United States government values working with Ugandan authorities to protect legitimate travel. We appreciate the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joining us for this Press Conference today.

As of January 21, 2026, the Trump Administration expanded the Visa Bond Pilot Program to additional countries, including Uganda, based on a range of immigration risk factors. Ugandans who are otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) nonimmigrant visas are now required to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before the visa can be issued.

The visa bond requirement is not retroactive and is fully refunded to travellers who comply with the terms and conditions of the US visa, admission at a port of entry, and the visa bond.

Additionally, the US Department of State has temporarily paused the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Uganda, effective January 21, 2026.

Secretary of State Rubio has instituted this pause until we can ensure that new immigrants have been vetted to the maximum degree to ensure their eligibility for a US visa, including that they will not use public assistance. This action applies to the issuance of immigrant visas only. It does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists, students, skilled workers and their families.

Consular Chief Tania Romanoff’s Remarks

We are still seeing Ugandans misusing their non-immigrant visas to the United States. If an individual uses a US non-immigrant visa to travel to the United States and misuses their visa, they may be subject to removal and ineligible for visas and future travel to the United States.

When you arrive at the United States port of entry, a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will inform you how long you can stay in the US, based on the type of your non-immigrant visa. If you remain longer than authorised (overstay), you could be removed from the US (deported) and could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States in the future.

Individuals who intentionally provide inaccurate information on visa applications or during interviews will not get a visa and may be permanently ineligible to enter the United States. They may also face criminal prosecution under Ugandan and US law. As Secretary Rubio stated: “Violators of US law – including international students – face visa denial or revocation, and deportation.”

US business and tourist non-immigrant visas are now issued as single-entry visas with a three-month validity, meaning travellers have three months from the date of issuance to travel to the United States and apply for admission to the US and may apply for admission only once during the validity of the non-immigrant visa.

The period of admission is determined by the CBP officer at the port of entry, making it essential for travellers to confirm their authorised stay and depart on time. DHS maintains an I-94 website where travellers can confirm their period of admission

Here is some more information on the visa bond. Firstly, it is important that people do NOT pay the bond before their interview.

If the consular officer finds the applicant qualified for a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa, then they will explain how to pay the bond and the dollar amount of the bond.

Visa bond compliance is straightforward: the bond is automatically canceled and fully refunded when a traveler follows US visa terms—by leaving the United States on time, not using the visa before it expires, or being denied entry at the port—while bonds may be forfeited if the Department of Homeland Security determines the traveler remained longer than authorized (overstayed), violated any US law while visiting the US, remained in the United States unlawfully, or sought to change status, including asylum.

Regarding the immigrant visa pause, immigrant visa applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule visa interviews. No previously issued immigrant visas have been revoked. Tourist, business, student, and other non-immigrant visas remain unaffected.