The Trump administration has added seven countries to the list of nations whose citizens must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for a US visa. The State Department quietly added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the list, which took effect on 1 January.
The move brings the total number of countries on the list to 13, all but two of which are in Africa. The new additions join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed on the list in August and October last year.
Under the requirement, citizens of these countries who are found eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, determined at the visa interview. The bond is refunded if the visa is denied or if the holder complies with visa terms. Payment does not guarantee a visa will be granted.
US officials have defended the bonds as effective in ensuring that citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas. The policy is part of broader efforts to tighten entry requirements, including mandatory in-person interviews and disclosure of social media histories and travel details.
Visa holders must also enter and exit the US through designated ports of entry, including Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, or risk denied entry or improperly recorded departure.
