Overview
- Starting April 2, applicants from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia will face the bond, bringing the total list to 50 countries.
- The requirement applies to B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas, with bond tiers of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 set at consular officers’ discretion during visa interviews.
- Bonds are refundable if a visa is denied, if the traveler does not enter the United States, or if the holder departs on time in line with visa terms.
- The State Department reports that nearly 97% of roughly 1,000 people who posted bonds did not overstay, pointing to the program’s effectiveness.
- Human-rights groups and affected communities say the costs restrict travel access and raise fairness concerns within a broader hard-line immigration agenda.