Kyrgyzstan Publicly Expressed Discontent with the US Visa Policy

According to the new rules, a visa must be backed by a monetary deposit


In Bishkek, a meeting took place between Mirbek Abakirov, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, and U.S. Ambassador Leslie Viguerie. Against the backdrop of tightening visa policies from Washington, the Kyrgyz side, unlike many other countries in the region, openly expressed its dissatisfaction with the actions of the U.S., without resorting to formal diplomatic expressions, as reported by the Telegram channel "Asian Express".

During the discussion, the participants examined the current state of bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and the U.S., as well as possible paths for their development. One of the key topics was the preparation for the "C5+1" forum, scheduled for February 4-5, 2026, in Bishkek. Both organizational issues and the political significance of this event for the dialogue between Central Asian countries and the United States were discussed.

Particular attention was paid to visa issues. The Kyrgyz side expressed its concern about the new requirements for obtaining U.S. B-1/B-2 visas, which negatively affect citizens' travel, hinder business contacts, and slow down the development of trade and economic relations.

The U.S. Ambassador noted that the new requirements are not directed against Kyrgyzstan and are part of the overall immigration policy of Washington related to compliance with visa legislation.

As a result of the negotiations, the parties agreed to continue working on finding compromise solutions aimed at reducing tensions in the visa sphere and preventing further complications in contacts between citizens of the two countries.

It is worth reminding that starting January 21, 2026, citizens of Kyrgyzstan wishing to obtain tourist and business visas to the U.S. in the B1/B2 category will be required to make a visa deposit. Kyrgyzstan is among the countries for which the U.S. is launching a pilot project for visa bonds. Details are posted on the official website of the U.S. Department of State.

This measure is aimed at reducing the number of cases of overstaying visas. A visa bond is a monetary amount that is added to the standard visa fee if the consular officer deems it necessary. The amount of the bond can vary from $5,000 to $15,000 and is determined individually based on the results of the interview at the embassy.

It is important to note that making a deposit does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. This condition applies only in the case of visa approval and solely at the discretion of the consul.

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