According to Reuters, on Wednesday, March 18 the U.S. State Department announced that the U.S. government will require citizens from 50 countries to pay a $15,000 bond in order to apply for entry into the United States. The list, which already included 38 countries (mostly in Africa), will now add 12 more countries.
The expanded visa bond program will take effect on April 2. Under this program, foreign nationals must pay $15,000 to obtain B1 or B2 business and tourist visas. An official stated that the measure is aimed at preventing visitors from overstaying their visas.
The newly added countries in the visa bond program are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.
Currently, the program affects a total of 50 countries. The previous 38 countries on the list included Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Cuba, most of which are in Africa.
The official said that visa holders who return home according to the terms of the visa and bond, or who never travel in the first place, will have their bond refunded.
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Since taking office in January last year, President Trump has pursued a tough immigration policy, including large-scale deportations, revoking visas and green cards, and reviewing immigrants’ social media posts and past speeches. These policies are aimed at ensuring U.S. domestic security.
A U.S. State Department official stated that the visa bond program has reduced the number of people overstaying their visas.
With the official list of 50 countries now finalized, U.S. embassies and consulates will fully implement the rule starting next month. Applicants are advised to prepare proof of funds before their visa interview and to carefully understand the bond refund process.
By Tian Jingxin
