The US State Department is set to implement a one-year pilot program that may require some foreign nationals applying for business or tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000, Xinhua reported.
The initiative, aimed at curbing visa overstays, allows consular officers to request bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 from applicants from countries with high overstay rates or limited screening measures.
The list of affected countries will be published online at least 15 days before the program takes effect. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten visa regulations, following a recent policy requiring more visa renewal applicants to attend in-person interviews, according to Xinhua.
