AGP Executive Report
Last update: 2 hours agoUS Visa Policy: The U.S. has made permanent its visa bond programme for B-1 business and B-2 tourism applicants from 50 countries, with consular officers able to require refundable deposits of $10,000, $15,000 or up to $20,000 before visas are issued—money is returned if travellers leave on time and follow conditions, but forfeited for overstays. São Tomé and Príncipe in focus: The rule explicitly includes São Tomé and Príncipe among the affected African states, effective 3 August 2026. UNESCO Heritage: UNESCO added 25 new World Heritage sites at its Busan session, including the Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe—six Portuguese colonial plantations tied to coffee and cocoa and marked by “forced migration and labor.” Tourism angle: A separate report highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s “golden passport” citizenship-by-investment scheme, offering citizenship for a $90,000 contribution to a National Transformation Fund (plus fees), aimed at raising development funds amid economic strain. Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister met São Tomé and Príncipe’s PM to discuss cooperation in education, health, agriculture, digitalization and culture.
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