The administration of President Donald Trump has announced that citizens from 50 countries will now be required to post a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for U.S. business or tourist visas, according to a State Department official. The expanded policy adds 12 new nations to an existing list of 38, many of which are in Africa, and will take effect from April 2.
Under the program, applicants for B1 and B2 visas must pay the bond as a guarantee against overstaying their permitted stay in the United States. The newly added countries include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. Officials stated that the bond will be refunded if travelers comply with visa conditions or choose not to travel.
The move is part of Trump’s broader hardline immigration strategy, which has included travel bans, stricter visa scrutiny, and increased deportations. While the administration argues the bond system has helped reduce visa overstays and improve national security, human rights groups have criticized the policy, saying it may limit access and undermine due process and free speech protections.
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