He noted that the current deposit amount of $15,000 is excessive, especially in the context of average salaries in the country. "This is a high price, and we continue discussions with the American side, which has already taken our requests into account. We will actively work on this issue," he added.
Kulubaev also mentioned that the American side made the decision regarding the deposit in response to the problem that many young Kyrgyz citizens remain in the USA after their visa expires. Additionally, he reported on ongoing discussions with various ministries about introducing a similar approach on a parity basis.
Speaking about the migration policy of the USA, the minister emphasized that this is an internal matter for each country, and external parties cannot influence it.
According to the minister, there are currently about 40,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan living in the USA.
"Those who violate the visa regime and are in the country without a valid visa are subject to deportation if they come to the attention of migration services. Previously, about 20 people have already been deported, and another 20 are currently expected to be deported," he reported.
Kulubaev emphasized that the main requirement from the USA is compliance with migration legislation.
It is worth noting that starting from January 21, 2026, citizens of Kyrgyzstan applying for non-immigrant visas to the USA (B-1 category for business trips and B-2 for tourism) will be required to pay a refundable deposit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
