In the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, a meeting took place between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country, Mirbek Abakirov, and the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Leslie Viguerie. Against the backdrop of tightening visa policies from Washington, Kyrgyzstan has become one of the few countries in the region openly expressing dissatisfaction with U.S. actions, as reported by the Telegram channel "Asian Express".
During the negotiations, both the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for their development were discussed. The issue of preparing the "V5+1" forum, scheduled for February 4-5, 2026, in Bishkek, was also considered. Both organizational aspects and the political significance of this platform for dialogue between Central Asian countries and the United States were discussed.
A key issue became the visa requirements. The Kyrgyz side openly expressed concern over the introduction of new conditions for obtaining U.S. B-1/B-2 visas for Kyrgyz citizens. It was emphasized that these innovations complicate travel, negatively affect business contacts, and hinder the development of trade and economic cooperation.
The U.S. Ambassador responded that the new requirements are not directed against Kyrgyzstan and are part of the overall U.S. immigration policy regarding compliance with visa legislation.
As a result of the meeting, the parties decided to continue joint efforts to find compromises that would help reduce tensions in visa issues and improve contacts between citizens of the two countries.
It is also worth noting that starting January 21, 2026, Kyrgyz citizens applying for B1/B2 visas will be required to pay a visa bond. Kyrgyzstan has been included in the list of countries for which the U.S. is launching a pilot visa bond program. Details are posted on the official website of the U.S. Department of State.
This innovation aims to reduce instances of overstaying visa limits. The visa bond is a monetary amount that must be paid in addition to the standard visa fee if the consular officer deems it necessary. The bond amount can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 and is determined individually based on the results of the interview at the embassy.
It is important to note that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. This requirement applies only in the case of visa approval and is solely at the discretion of the consular officer.
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