Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the C5+1 ministerial meeting in Samarkand, 24.kg reported.
The key topics of the dialogue included revising visa restrictions for Kyrgyz citizens, expanding trade and investment partnerships, and easing the pressure of US secondary sanctions on the country's banking sector.
Visa relations between Bishkek and Washington became significantly more complicated in early 2026, when the US State Department included Kyrgyzstan in the Visa Bond pilot program. Under this initiative, US consular services began requiring Kyrgyz citizens to provide a mandatory deposit of between $15,000 and $20,000 when applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas as a guarantee of timely departure from the country.
High collateral requirements have resonated with Kyrgyz society and become a major barrier to academic, business, and cultural mobility. The strengthening of US sanctions controls on cross-border payments in Central Asia has created additional tension.
During the meeting, Jeenbek Kulubayev called on the American side to reconsider the strict financial barriers for visa applicants and to take into account Kyrgyzstan's constructive position on adhering to international financial discipline. The heads of the foreign policy agencies agreed to continue consultations through consular services and financial intelligence.
For Kyrgyzstan and the entire Central Asian region, the possible abolition of visa collateral requirements and the establishment of clear rules for secondary sanctions compliance are essential conditions for maintaining the stability of the financial sector and enhancing business ties with the West.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 26, 2026