U.S. expands list of countries required to post costly visa bonds

The Trump Administration added 25 countries on Tuesday, after adding seven less than a week earlier, bringing the total number of nations whose citizens must post visa bonds to 38, Time reported.

The bonds, announced last year, can be as much as $15,000 and are refunded if a visa application is denied or the visitor complies with the visa terms. They are ostensibly intended to address high visa overstay rates, though given the high amounts—particularly relative to some countries' average incomes—they are likely to also have a deterrent effect. For the 29 affected countries with data from the International Labour Organization, average monthly earnings per person are about $675. Most of the most recently added countries are in Africa, with others in Asia and South America, including Venezuela and Cuba.

The bond requirements for the newly added nations take effect on Jan. 21. Bond sizes range from $5,000 to $15,000 and are set by consular officers during visa interviews; paying a bond does not guarantee a visa. The policy applies to nationals of designated countries applying for B1 or B2 visas, and approved applicants who posted a bond must enter the U.S. only through Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy, or Washington Dulles airports.

Key Topics

Politics, Trump Administration, Visa Bonds, International Labour Organization, Venezuela, Cuba