Nuri Katz, founder of Apex Capital Partners and a leading expert in investor immigration, is urging Caribbean governments to open immediate discussions with the United States following the announcement of a controversial new travel policy.
The US government has introduced a bond requirement of up to US $15,000 for certain visitors, a move aimed at curbing illegal immigration and addressing high rates of visa overstays.
Although the measure has not yet been extended to the Caribbean, Katz warns that the region must prepare, given the US State Department’s indication that countries with Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs) could fall under its scope.
For many Antiguans and Barbudans, the potential implications are dire. Residents already struggle with the cost of securing a visa, and an additional bond of such magnitude could put travel to the US far out of reach. “This is nothing short of a nightmare,” one resident lamented.
The bond, launched as part of a 12-month pilot program under the Trump administration, has already been applied to two countries.
The possibility of its expansion has sparked unease across the Caribbean, where several nations—including Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica—depend on strong mobility ties with the United States.
With visa fees also on the rise, Katz emphasizes that dialogue with Washington is crucial to safeguard the interests of Caribbean citizens.
The coming months may determine whether this policy becomes a stumbling block for mobility—or a catalyst for change within the region.
