Under the new rule, Cape Verdean passport holders applying for B1/B2 visas used for tourism and business travel may be asked to pay a deposit. The exact amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis by a consular officer during the visa interview and will not apply uniformly to all applicants.

US officials say the money will be fully refunded if the traveller complies with visa conditions and departs the United States on time. The embassy has stressed that applicants should not make any payments unless formally instructed by a consular officer after their interview, warning against potential scams.

The embassy also clarified that B1/B2 visas issued before the policy takes effect will remain valid and will not be affected by the new requirement.

The Visa Bond Program is used by the United States to discourage visa overstays and strengthen compliance with immigration rules. While the embassy did not explain why Cape Verde was added, such measures are typically introduced when US authorities believe additional guarantees are needed to ensure temporary visitors return home.

Cape Verde ranked among the countries with the highest levels of irregular immigration to the United States in 2023, according to a report by the Centre for Immigration Studies citing data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The report found that 12.8% of Cape Verdeans who entered the US on tourist or business visas overstayed, while the overstay rate for student and exchange visa holders was even higher, at 25.7%.

The visit is part of his official diaspora tour to Portugal, which runs from June 1 to 6 and includes meetings with business leaders, students, and community associations.

Progress in housing solutions

President Neves noted that one of the major concerns—housing—is gradually being addressed across various municipalities. He pointed to improved conditions and local government efforts in areas like Oeiras, where authorities are actively working to resolve housing challenges for migrant communities.

Professional integration through training and education

According to President Neves, access to vocational training and educational support is contributing to the smoother professional integration of Cape Verdean migrants. These programs are helping individuals gain new skills, improve employment prospects, and adapt more successfully to life in Portugal.

Community engagement and local Support

Neves highlighted the importance of community-led initiatives and local partnerships in promoting inclusion. “There are good practices and very positive actions that allow for better integration of Cape Verdeans,” he said , citing examples from different municipalities where migrants are becoming more actively involved in civic life.

Speaking ahead of Cape Verde’s 50th independence anniversary on July 5, President Neves also called on the global Cape Verdean diaspora to unite in shaping the country's future. “We must now unite the global Cape Verdean nation to accelerate the pace and build a modern, prosperous Cape Verde with opportunities,” he said.

Bringing together around 30 participants from national institutions and international experts, the initiative seeks to tailor the regional TIP+ (Trafficking in Persons) framework to Cape Verdean realities.

The program included technical presentations, interactive discussions, and the administration of a detailed questionnaire to assess the country’s legal and protective mechanisms against trafficking.

Cape Verde is the latest ECOWAS member state to take steps toward the national implementation of the TIP+ Strategy, which is designed to provide a comprehensive and harmonised regional response to human trafficking across West Africa.

The new measures outlined to curb this outbreak include the construction of a municipal pigsty, sanitary slaughter, quarantine procedures, epidemiological surveillance, and improvements in biosecurity.

“In response to this emergency situation, the government understands that it is necessary to reinforce investments with additional measures, which include quarantine, sanitary slaughter, epidemiological surveillance, and biosafety,” reads the Council of Ministers resolution.

Authorities have cited poor hygiene practices and the lack of biosecurity measures as ongoing contributors to repeated outbreaks over the past six decades.

African swine fever was first detected in Cape Verde in 1966 on the islands of Santiago and Maio. It later spread to the island of Fogo in 2011 and Boa Vista in 2015, where it has caused intermittent outbreaks since.

The current outbreak in Boa Vista was confirmed in February 2025.