The United States has introduced a new visa requirement, further tightening its immigration policy by adding seven more countries to a list whose citizens must submit a security bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 when applying for a US visa.
According to the Associated Press, most of the newly added countries are from Africa, bringing the total number of countries subject to the bond requirement to 13.
The US State Department had previously imposed the same condition on nationals of Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia last year. Under the latest decision, citizens of Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan have now been included in the list.
The new requirement came into effect on January 1.
US officials said the bond policy is aimed at ensuring that visa holders from certain countries do not overstay their permitted duration in the United States. However, authorities clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval.
Officials added that the deposited amount will be refunded if the visa application is rejected or if the visa holder fully complies with all visa conditions and leaves the country within the authorized time period.
The move is being described as a continuation of former president Donald Trump’s administration policies, which focused on tightening visa procedures. These measures include mandatory in-person interviews, disclosure of social media history, and complete details of applicants’ travel and residence records.
Experts warn that the decision will make obtaining a US visa more difficult and expensive for citizens of the affected countries, potentially impacting international travel, trade, and business relations.
