Translated with AI
Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov proposed revising the visa-free regime for US citizens. He announced this on his X account, commenting on the US State Department's new requirements for Kyrgyz citizens applying for business and tourist visas, Fergana.ru reports.
According to Baisalov, Kyrgyz citizens will be required to post a deposit of between $5,000 and $15,000 when applying for B-1 and B-2 visas. The deposit is non-refundable if the visa status changes or the length of stay is exceeded, and its amount is determined individually by the consular officer during the visa interview. The new rules will take effect on January 21, 2026.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that visa policy must be based on the principles of parity and mutual respect. "If such high barriers are imposed on our citizens, we cannot pretend nothing has happened," Baisalov wrote.
Approved applicants will be able to enter the United States only through three international airports: Logan International Airport in Boston, Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
As The Diplomat points out, US citizens have been able to enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free since 2012. However, Kyrgyz citizens have never had the right to visa-free entry to the US. "The visa policy, despite Baisalov's comments, has never been directly reciprocal—and certainly not with the United States," the publication notes.
