The United States government is set to charge some visa applicants up to $15,000 as a bond payment before their visas can be issued.
This development was announced in a notice issued by the U.S. State Department and is set to be published on Tuesday.
According to the notice, the pilot program, which is set to commence on August 20, will require applicants from certain countries to pay a sum of “no less than $15,000” as collateral for the issuance of their visa.
It added that the funds will be returned if the applicant complies with all visa terms. However, if the applicant remains in the United States past the deadline, the funds will be forfeited.
Naijaonpoint reports that the visa bond is part of an immigration crackdown by the administration of President Donald Trump aimed at discouraging visa overstays.
The notice, however, did not list the specific countries to be affected by the new rule.
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance,” the agency said in a notice to be published Tuesday in the US Federal Register.
The 12-month program would only affect foreign nationals from countries considered to have “high visa overstay rates” based on a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report, the notice said.
It added that applicants will require the bond payments from countries “where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient,” as well as those who were granted citizenship without a residency requirement.
In response to an inquiry by AFP, a State Department spokesperson said the scheme is part of policies to enforce US immigration laws and promote national security.
“The pilot reinforces the Trump Administration’s commitment to enforcing US immigration laws and safeguarding US national security,” the spokesperson said.
The program will apply to B-1 or B-2 non-immigrant visas, and those required to pay bonds will be required to enter and depart the United States from a list of pre-selected airports.
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