The Trump administration has expanded a controversial visa policy by adding seven more countries — including five in Africa — to a list of nations whose citizens must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the United States.
With the latest additions, the list now includes 13 countries, all but two of them in Africa, a move that further raises the financial barrier for many travelers seeking U.S. visas.
The State Department last week added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the program. The designations took effect Jan. 1, as outlined in a notice published on the department’s travel.state.gov website.
The bond requirement is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten entry rules for foreign visitors. Other measures already in place include mandatory in-person visa interviews for applicants from all countries requiring visas, as well as extensive disclosures of social media activity and detailed personal travel and residency histories for both applicants and their families.
U.S. officials argue the bond system — which ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 — serves as a deterrent against visa overstays by applicants from countries with historically high overstay rates.
Posting the bond does not ensure a visa will be approved. However, the funds are refunded if the visa is denied or once a visa holder demonstrates compliance with the terms of admission, including departing the country on time.
The newly added countries join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October of last year.
AP
