Statement on U.S. Visa Bonds and Travel to the United States
From Sir Ronald Sanders, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the US
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is aware of public concern following reports that Antiguan and Barbudan nationals may, in limited circumstances, be required to post a visa bond when applying for a visitor visa to the United States.
It is important to clarify several points.
First, no bond applies to holders of existing U.S. visas. Those visas remain valid on their current terms.
Second, while Antigua and Barbuda has been included in a U.S. Visa Bond Pilot Program, this measure applies only to a very narrow category of new visa applicants who qualify under limited exceptions while existing U.S. visa restrictions remain in place. The bond does not apply to all travellers, and it does not guarantee or deny the issuance of a visa.
Third, it is important for the public to understand the context in which this information emerged.
No government on the list—including Antigua and Barbuda—was advised in advance of the U.S. public announcement. Indeed, the announcement was made without prior notice even to U.S. Embassies accredited to the affected countries. This understandably contributed to uncertainty and concern, which the Government is now actively addressing through direct engagement.
United States authorities have indicated that the purpose of the bond is to encourage compliance with U.S. immigration laws, particularly timely departure from the U.S. In that context, we must be candid: there have been instances of overstays and charges on the US public purse, including unpaid hospital bills, by a small number of our nationals, and these actions create difficulties not only for the individuals concerned but for all Antiguans and Barbudans who travel legitimately.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, I have re-engaged directly with the U.S. State Department at the highest levels. A formal diplomatic note has been submitted, setting out Antigua and Barbuda’s record clearly and firmly. That record shows that our country’s visitor overstay rate is consistently low, significantly below that of many countries not subject to bond requirements. We have also emphasized Antigua and Barbuda’s long-standing cooperation with the United States on immigration compliance and security matters.
Our objective is straightforward: to ensure that Antiguan and Barbudan passport holders are treated no less favourably than nationals of other CARICOM countries, and that visa processing for our citizens continues on fair and reasonable terms.
Discussions are ongoing on removing restrictions for visas on legitimate Antigua and Barbuda travellers. These negotiations ere serious, measured, and persistent. While outcomes in international affairs are never guaranteed, there is room to expect reason to prevail. The Government is working strenuously to achieve a correction of this measure.
In the meantime, we urge all citizens traveling abroad to respect immigration laws fully and to meet all personal obligations, as the conduct of a few can affect the many.
The Government will continue to keep the public informed and remains fully engaged in defending the interests of Antigua and Barbuda and its people.
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This Statement is trying to blame the few locals who over stay when people from jaimaca and DR have 10x the over stay rate than Antigua……these restrictions aren’t on those cases these restrictions are squeezing the island because of our government and prime minister….i hope we the citizens can punish our government in the next election
Be serious Mr Saunders, you are heartless to say a number of Antiguans overstay when you know our overstay rate is of the lowest in the Caribbean. It is places like Guyana that traditionally have high overstay rates. It’s probably the Guyanese who got our passports and never looked back once thay entered America. You are really NOT batting for Antigua and Barbuds because it is not your country. This is all so wrong. Useless article, you keep fooling the PM. We need a real Antigua diplomat to advocate on our behalf.
“On the instructions of the Prime Minister, I have re-engaged directly with the U.S. State Department at the highest levels” – So the Prime Minister had to tell you to do your job
Fuck ya self belle. What the fuk the Guyana nearga and dem haffa do wit Fukin dis??? Ya ignorant fuck hole!!!!!!
The contempt the ALP has for ingenious Antiguans is palpable, but if people continue to vote for them, nothing will change.
@Belle- You do understand that as an ambassador he has to ensure that US officials understand that we take serious persons breeching their immigration laws? You think they would even give him an ear if he tries to pretend that some of our people have not gone afoul of their laws. If you read further you would see him making the same statement you are, that there are other nations who have done worse yet they are not on the list. Please note just the other day S Bowen in an Observer article “Antigua and Barbuda, I cry for thee.” in essence admitted and lauded that he had overstayed, and worked illegally, in the US, in order to make his dreams come true. Those sentiments especially from a Antiguan law makers, can lead to the actions the US is taking
GB and this propagandists Sanders needs to stop pussyfooting around and tell the people the truth.
But he’s not going to tell the truth, because he wants to be reelected.
Well, let me speak the truth for him.
Antiguan’s, your PM and a few others in his Cabinet is compromised.
Meaning, America have dirt on them in their intelligence briefings, and that is why Dominica and Antigua were signal out with this Visa thing.
You can only pressure/bride someone if you know their weakness/dirt.
Again, your PM is caught in some dirty deals along the way, and it’s tied to Venezuela.
It’s also tied to someone big that has slipped through the cracks of the CIP and made it to the point where that person can hurt the US.
In my observation, I think it’s a Russian spy or Chinese, and that’s why they (Chinese /Russians) didn’t come to the Aide of Maduro.
Let me break down the thing for y’all. The Russians are not speaking, because the old adage is., if you keep quiet, it’s the less that can be asked of you. The more you talk, it’s the more questions you will have to answer.
Pleading the ” fifth” is not just an American thing, it’s a smart people thing. Smart Governments know that.
Sometimes I wish Antigua had a PM who understands that, but many a times when he speaks, his admission is in what he says or what he omitted. Just stay quiet GB, but I’m afraid that cart has already bolted.
So Again Antiguan’s..your Prime Minister is compromised big time. Too many serious Criminals have slip through the CIP crevices for America to tolerate anymore.
And GB knows about it. Y’all think just letting in a 1000 unknown people on a plane, just for them to disappear, knowing full well they are trying to get to the US, is child play to the US? y’all better think again!
These things are no joke..they are serious breaches, and GB and co stood behind that kind of foolishness and enabled it.
So now Antigua is labeled a ” Terrorist enablerler”.
That’s the truth, and that’s how far this PM has lowered us.
On the American Blacklist for Christ sake.
We are in the same sentence as Haiti right now . Love Haitians, but those are the facts.
TELL THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH GB.
Wake up Ambassador! So our country must absorb the US refugees but we cannot even pay for a Visa. What upside down logic is that? Pure Diplomatic madness!
My visa expired in 2012 and if I never set foot in the US again I really down give a damn .
Leave Jamaica out of your mouth and fix your own problems. Back in the there was an overstay problem, but nowadays Jamaicans travel back and forth
Please tell ppl the truth so ppl don’t waste money applying for a visa that would be nice. Get hard let them keep their refugees Please how they want to send us their refugees criminals
You have time a answer…. like a we tell them government go inna bed with Maduro dwl
Looks as though ANR doesn’t want anyone to criticize Ron Sanders. I sent a comment that they censored, he and Gaston are 2 jokers. Ron Sandres no lub Antiguans he lub the money. Fuck he
This letter is so distasteful and vindictive, stop pointing fingers… because the larger islands including my own, Jamaica, had a history of mistreatment of our travellers to you all islands, you believe you all were untouchable and we alone must face stigma…. Well, glad unuh start feel the karma. Respect 100%!!
According to Gaston the per capita income of Antiguans and Barbudans is $60,000.00, therefore any bond amount is easily met. We are the POWERHOUSE NATION of the west.
Gaston Browne Must go, Gaston Browne must go, Gaston Browne must go, Gaston Browne must go, Gaston Browne must go, Gaston Browne must go
@PowerHouse.. a google search AI says “$22,000 to $23,700 USD for 2024. In your mind income means net? Have you forgotten expenses? My earning 22K does not mean I can afford to give the US some 15K, which they will hold for the duration of my visa.
@Jamboy- US overstay report for 2024 has A&B at 1.30% vs Jamaica 3.4 %, Guyana 4.00, Saint Vincent 2.44 %,Haiti 24.84 percent (Note Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana. saint Vicent are not on the bond list)
@Islanman26 – Stop practicing witch craft (wishing evil). The US would cancel the head of state visa if what you stated were true. Speaking of which they have canceled the visa for Gustavo Petro (Columbia’s president because he criticized Trump), Dennis Cornwall (Grenada Finance Minister because he supported the Cuban medical staff). The US president has made clear they will no longer accept immigrants from third world countries: ““I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the US system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions,” (Donald Trump via truth social)
@Tenman.
So you are just making the point that many have made..it’s because of Antigua and the Dominca Leasers.
In all what y’all saying, the question is, how do these two islands tied into this?
Well it’s plain and simple, since you just made the point with your numbers.
So Antigua is not sanctioned because of overstay, so what is it then?
Well it’s obvious to me, and that’s direct connection to corruption and the Venezuela oil deals with China and Russia.
But again..nice to see you back, but politics are not always numbers.
@Tenman.
Again you have not made a plausible connection to Antigua and Dominca in all this, other than the Orange man spitting some foolish rhetoric out of his mouth.
Again, how does policy attach to Antigua and Dominca, because by your argument, Antigua shouldn’t be on this list.
And by your own argument with your numbers, isn’t it obvious as to why they got on that list?
Out of all the Black people in the Caribbean, Antigua all of a sudden got on the blacklist, when we never was? So this racist argument is foolishness by some, and it’s only in an attempt to shift the blame as to why we(Antigua) is on that Blacklist.
(I’m talking for this particular situation)
But like I said, your boy is compromised, and more than likely an informant.
I’ve been in logistics all my life @tenman, I know how things are moved.
Your PM is corrupt, and he’s tied directly to the Venezuela oil. And when it comes to intelligence, we all know that not everyone goes to jail, some are used for the bigger fish.
Think Tenman, think.
No witchcraft here, just pure wisdom.
@tenman the $60,000 per capita came from your top dog’s mouth. So are you finally agreeing that GB is a pathological liar?
ANR should have his comment in their archives.
You’ve kissed GB’s ass enough and caught have a stomach full of his spittle so you should be able to get an interest free million dollar loan from the sale of the Alfa Nero.
The TINMAN has resurfaced and as a practicing analyst at that. Whenever these people speak, they are actually reaching out to their simpletons who couldn’t care if Sunday falls on a Wednesday. The United States had become concerned ever since this lawless, reprehensible figure took action, even before he was sworn as Prime Minister. They knew then that he was a case study and he kept overwhelming them with complex exercises. I suppose the TINMAN believes that issuing a license to a Chinese Corporation for a gun factory is the same as obtaining permission to sell roast corn at an intersection. How the Lawless Leader made contact with notorious international fraudsters like Alex S Moran and other dirty Odebretch players is baffling. How can such a small place attract some of the heaviest hitters in crime? Did you ever doubted that they knew of the thousand ‘wealthy Africans ‘ who visited us, unannounced? You never thought that they were informed about the thirteen who died at sea and where they were headed? How about those who made it to the mainland! All these persons had Antigua/Barbuda passports, including members of the Syrian and Chinese rings who were intercepted in St. Martin some years ago. People like you, TINMAN, are the ones who force the U.S. to make their decisions, because you are seen as enablers with your ridiculous, dishonest rhetoric, and yes, people like Sherfield Bowen are responsible for our visa debacle; now crawl back into your dungeon.
@Born & Bred Antiguan, The Thirteen Sins is being organized for downloading.
Tenman, where have you been hiding? Do you need an update on all the shenanigans with Gaston Browne and the ABLP?
Let me know boss…
I bet you really know, but shame lick you bad!
Anyway, welcome back
@POWERHOUSE NATION WHERE.. Convert the PM’s figure to USD since I quoted usd and he clearly quoted Ec. They equate to the same
@Brix. Get some glasses or have the existing one checked. Been here posting for years (before today, yesterday)
The statement issued by Sir Ronald Sanders in response to the United States’ imposition of visa bonds on Antiguan and Barbudan nationals is not only inadequate, it is an abdication of diplomatic responsibility. At a moment when Antiguans and Barbudans are being subjected to a punitive, discretionary, and financially exclusionary policy, the Ambassador to Washington chose not to defend his people with urgency or conviction, but instead to rationalize the very injustice imposed upon them.
Let me speak plainly, this policy that requires $5,000–$15,000 to be held by the U.S. government as a condition of lawful travel is not a neutral administrative tool, it is an economic barrier that disproportionately harms working families, caregivers, students, the elderly, and those seeking medical care. Therefore, this reality demanded moral clarity but what we the public received with this irrational statement was bureaucratic appeasement. Rather than forcefully challenging the inequity of the policy, the Ambassador’s statement recycles U.S. justifications, highlights alleged transgressions by “a small number” of nationals, and implicitly validates the premise that collective punishment is acceptable. THERE IS NO ADVOCACY IN THIS RIDICULOUS STATEMENT ONLY PURE CAPITULATION.
Worse still, this statement exhibits a disturbing absence of empathy. There is no acknowledgment of the financial devastation this policy will impose. No recognition of the humiliation inherent in being singled out. No sense that the lives and livelihoods of Antiguan and Barbudan citizens are being disrupted by a decision taken without consultation or notice. Diplomacy is not the art of explaining injustice, it is the obligation to confront it. By emphasizing overstays and unpaid bills while failing to contextualize them within broader global migration patterns, the Ambassador effectively echoes these talking points as justification rather than dismantling them. In doing so, he shifts the burden of blame away from an arbitrary policy and onto the very people he is charged with defending. THIS IS NOT MERELY A FAILURE OF TONE, IT IS A FAILURE OF PURPOSE.
At a time when Antigua and Barbuda requires assertive leadership in Washington leadership capable of mobilizing solidarity, applying diplomatic pressure, and publicly contesting discriminatory treatment, what we have instead is a response that signals acquiescence, not resistance. The question therefore must be asked, plainly and without hesitation, what, exactly, is the value of representation that neither shields nor speaks for its people when it matters most? Ambassadorship is not a lifetime appointment. It is a role contingent on relevance, effectiveness, and trust. When an ambassador appears more concerned with maintaining cordiality than defending national dignity, that trust erodes. This issue is not academic, so please stop with this academic write up and performance. This issue affects real lives, real mobility, and real opportunity. AND ON THIS ISSUE, SIR RON SANDERS HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO MEET THE MOMENT.
Antigua and Barbuda deserves representation that is bold, responsive, and unafraid to call injustice by its name, anything less is a disservice. IF THIS STATEMENT REFLECTS THE BEST THAT CAN BE OFFERED IN DEFENSE OF OUR CITIZENS, THEN IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE NOR DISRESPECTFUL TO CONCLUDE THAT THE TIME FOR NEW DIPLOMATIC LEADERSHIP HAS ARRIVED.
Encouraging to hear this is only the first phase. Consistency will determine whether the programme truly succeeds.
I am very Glad to see action, not just talk. I hope the materials reach the people who truly need them and the process stays fair and transparent
Housing security is a foundation for everything else education, health, and stability. This is a step in the right direction.
The USA will not change anything to make 268 visa applicants process much easier. Behind the scenes they will be telling the government which country to associate with or not.
They are not pleased 268 have a permanent Chinese embassy on island.
I’m happy current visa holders won’t be impacted