The U.S. State Department announced it will expand its visa bond program to include 12 more countries, requiring applicants from these nations to post bonds of up to $15,000 for B1 and B2 visas effective April 2.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. State Department expanded its visa bond program to include 12 more countries, requiring applicants from these nations to post bonds of up to $15,000 for B1 and B2 visas effective April 2. The affected countries are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.
According to a notice posted on the State Department website, citizens from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia will be subject to this requirement. This expansion brings the total number of countries affected by the program to 50.
The bond program was introduced last year as part of a broader effort to curb illegal migration and reduce visa overstays. The bonds are refunded if the application is denied or if the visa holder adheres to the terms of their stay. An anonymous State Department official stated that almost 97% of those who have posted bonds under this program have not overstayed their visas.
The cost of the bond depends on the applicant's circumstances and is determined at the discretion of a consular officer during the visa interview, as reported by Fox News. The majority of the countries affected are in Africa, which officials say have higher visa overstay rates, though the list also includes nations in Asia, Latin America and elsewhere.
The Trump administration has defended the policy as a means of reducing visa overstays and improving domestic security. However, human rights groups have condemned the policy for curbing due process guarantees and free speech. Critics argue that the high bond amounts disproportionately affect low-income travelers from non-Western nations.
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