The United States has announced the expansion of a system imposing a financial bond on foreign nationals wishing to obtain a tourist or business visa. Already in effect for 38 countries, it will be extended to twelve new nations, including Cambodia and Tunisia, as of April 2.
According to Reuters, “the expanded visa bond program, which requires these foreign nationals to pay $15,000 for a B1 or B2 tourism or business visa.” The list also includes Ethiopia, Georgia, Mongolia, and Nicaragua. The stated goal is to reduce abuses related to temporary visas, especially cases of overstaying the authorized duration.
The Department of State indicates that nearly 1,000 foreigners have obtained a visa under this program, with a 97% return rate within the deadlines. The bond is refunded if the visa conditions are met or if the trip ultimately does not take place. The bonds will be reimbursed to visa holders who return to their country in accordance with the visa conditions.
This measure is part of a broader immigration policy led by the Trump administration since January. The aim is to prevent visitors from exceeding the validity period of their visa. According to the Department of State, the average cost of deporting an immigrant in an irregular situation is $18,000, while immigrant visa procedures have been frozen in 75 countries.
In total, 50 countries are now affected by this program. In addition to the twelve new states: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. The initial list included Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Zambia, mainly in Africa but also in Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
