US to require up to $15K bond from visitors in new visa trial

9 months ago

The U.S. will implement a 12-month pilot program requiring some visitors to pay a bond of $5,000-$15,000 for a visa.
The program targets visitors from countries with high visa overstay rates or where screening information is lacking.
Citizens of Canada, Mexico, and Visa Waiver Program countries are exempt.
Bond funds will be returned if visitors depart according to visa terms.
A similar pilot program was launched in 2020 but was not fully implemented due to the pandemic.
Countries with high overstay rates include Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, Yemen, Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo.
The State Department aims to enforce immigration laws to bolster security and ensure timely departures.

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