The Trump administration has expanded a policy that requires some foreign visitors to pay a security bond before entering the United States, increasing the number of affected countries from 13 to 38.
The visa bond, which ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, is meant to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas, according to US officials. They said the payment serves as a compliance guarantee and can be refunded if applicants obey all visa rules or if a visa is denied.
However, critics argued the cost could place the US visa process out of reach for many people who genuinely intend to visit the country.
The US State Department recently added seven nations and has now included 25 more countries, according to a notice published on its official travel website and reported by AP. The expanded rule will take effect from January 21.
With the new update, passport holders from countries mostly in Africa, as well as parts of Latin America and Asia, may be asked to post a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for a US visa.
The policy forms part of broader entry controls introduced under the Trump administration, including mandatory in-person interviews, disclosure of several years of social media history, and detailed information about travel records and living arrangements.
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Posting the bond does not guarantee a visa. But applicants will be eligible for a refund after compliance is confirmed.
Here is the itemised full list of the 38 countries affected by the expanded US visa bond policy:
Newly Added Countries (25):
1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Bangladesh
5. Benin
6. Burundi
7. Cape Verde
8. Côte d’Ivoire
9. Cuba
10. Djibouti
11. Dominica
12. Fiji
13. Gabon
14. Kyrgyzstan
15. Nepal
16. Nigeria
17. Senegal
18. Tajikistan
19. Togo
20. Tonga
21. Tuvalu
22. Uganda
23. Vanuatu
24. Venezuela
25. Zimbabwe
Previously Listed Countries (13):
26. Bhutan
27. Botswana
28. Central African Republic
29. The Gambia
30. Guinea
31. Guinea-Bissau
32. Malawi
33. Mauritania
34. Namibia
35. Sao Tome and Principe
36. Tanzania
37. Turkmenistan
38. Zambia