Helao: US visa restrictions threaten economic diplomacy

NEW YORK – Namibia’s Ambassador to the United States of America WilliamsHelao, says the country’s visa regime is becoming a major obstacle to the ease of doing business between the two nations.

Consequently, fewer Namibian businesspeople are travelling to the US.

In an exclusive interview with New Era in New York, Helao said the Namibian Embassy is engaging the US government over the visa restrictions, which require eligible Namibian applicants for US B-1/B-2 visas to post a bond of US$5 000,

US$10 000 or US$15 000. The amount is determined during the visa interview, according to the US Department of State. Namibia has been subject to the visa bond requirement since 1 January 2026.

“This matter is still on the table. We are engaging the government, and hopefully, in the near future, we are going to see that everything has been settled,” he said.