ISLAMABAD: The United States has significantly expanded its visa bondpolicy, adding Bangladesh and Venezuela among 25 countries to a listrequiring passport holders to post bonds of up to $15,000 for tourist orbusiness visas. This move, announced by the State Department, brings thetotal to 38 nations, mostly in Africa, with others in Asia and LatinAmerica. The new requirements take effect on January 21, marking a sharpescalation in immigration controls under the Trump administration.
Less than a week after incorporating seven countries, raising the count to13, the latest addition nearly triples the list. Officials defend thebonds, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, as essential to prevent visaoverstays. Data from the Department of Homeland Security’s 2024 overstayreport highlights higher rates among nationals from these countries,justifying the targeted approach for B-1/B-2 visas.
The policy stems from a pilot program launched in August 2025, initiallycovering a few nations like Malawi and Zambia. It has since grown,reflecting broader efforts to tighten entry rules. Applicants must pay viaPay.gov, and bonds are refunded upon compliance or denial, but posting onedoes not guarantee visa approval. This financial barrier could render UStravel unaffordable for many ordinary citizens.
Among the newly added are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin,Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast,Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu,Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. The inclusion of Bangladesh affects millionsseeking US visits for family, education, or business, while Venezuela’saddition comes amid ongoing political tensions.
US officials argue the measure enhances national security by deterringoverstays, citing fiscal reports showing varying overstay rates. Critics,however, contend it disproportionately impacts developing nations, limitinglegitimate travel. The bonds are determined during consular interviews,adding uncertainty to the application process already burdened by mandatoryin-person appearances.
This expansion aligns with other Trump-era policies, including extensivesocial media screening and detailed disclosures of past travel and familyarrangements. Such requirements apply to all visa-needing countries, butthe bond targets those with perceived higher risks based on overstaystatistics and document security concerns.
For affected nationals, the bond must accompany Form I-352, and visaholders are restricted to specific entry ports like Boston, New York JFK,or Washington Dulles. Failure to comply risks forfeiture. While aimed attourism and business visitors, the policy indirectly influences broadermigration patterns.
The rapid growth from a pilot to 38 countries underscores theadministration’s commitment to stringent immigration enforcement. Previousadditions included Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan effective January 1. Thecumulative effect raises questions about accessibility to the US for globaltravelers.
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Human rights groups have criticised similar policies for restrictingmovement and economic opportunities. Supporters maintain they protectdomestic resources and security. As the January 21 deadline approaches,consular posts prepare for increased scrutiny and potential backlog inprocessing applications from listed countries.
In summary, this visa bond expansion represents a data-driven yetcontroversial step in US immigration strategy, potentially reshaping travelfrom dozens of nations while aiming to ensure compliance with visa termsthrough financial incentives.
Source:https://apnews.com/article/trump-visas-bond-8346bf4fa49791010dc3116aac2a5f89
Tags: United States, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Trump Administration, VisaBond, State Department
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