State Department expands visa bond requirement to 12 more countries

The US State Department on Wednesday expanded its list of countries whose citizens will need to post a deposit of up to $15,000 to apply for a US business or tourist visa.

The department added 12 countries to the growing list: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.

Starting April 2, passport holders from these countries must pay a deposit of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, which is refunded if the visa application is refused or, if granted, if the traveler complies with the conditions of the B1 or B2 visa.

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The State Department added 12 countries to the growing list. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The cost of the bond depends on the applicant’s circumstances and is determined at the discretion of a consular officer during the visa interview.

The requirement was first introduced by the Trump administration last year, as part of an effort to combat visa overstays and illegal immigration, according to officials.

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Travelers from some countries will be required to post deposits of up to $15,000 under an expanded State Department policy. (iStock)

With the latest additions, citizens of 50 countries will be subject to the bail requirement from April 2, although this policy is already in effect for most of them.

The majority of countries are in Africa, where authorities say visa overstay rates are higher, although the list also includes countries in Asia, Latin America and elsewhere.

The majority of countries on the list are in Africa, where overstay rates are high, but the list also includes countries in Asia, Latin America and elsewhere. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The Visa Bond Program has already proven effective in significantly reducing the number of visa recipients who overstay their visas and remain in the United States illegally,” the department said in a statement.

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Nearly 97% of the approximately 1,000 people who posted bond complied with visa requirements and did not extend their stay, according to the department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.