Washington– The Trump administration is nearly tripling the number of countries to which passport holders will be required to send Bonds up to $15,000 To apply to enter the United States.
Less than a week after adding seven countries to the list of countries subject to visa checks, bringing the total to 13, the State Department on Tuesday added 25 more countries. Bond requirements for the latest additions will take effect Jan. 21, according to a notice posted on the website travel.state.gov Website.
The move means that 38 countries, mostly in Africa but some in Latin America and Asia, are now on the list, putting the process of obtaining a US visa out of reach for many.
It’s the latest effort by the Trump administration Tightening requirements for entry into the United Statesincluding requiring citizens from all countries requiring visas to conduct personal interviews and Revealing years of social media history In addition to detailed accounts of their and their families’ previous travel and living arrangements.
US officials have defended the bonds, which can range from $5,000 to $15,000, stressing that they are effective in ensuring that citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas.
Paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be granted, but the amount will be refunded if the visa is refused or when the visa holder proves that he or she has complied with the visa conditions.
The new countries subject to visa bond requirements as of January 21 are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
These countries join Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Zambia on the list.