Foreign nationals from certain countries may be required to pay up to $15,000 as a bond when applying for a US visa, under a pilot programme announced by the State Department on Monday.
This decision will be officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday and become effective 15 days later, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat illegal immigration.
The initiative aims to ensure that visa applicants do not stay in the United States beyond their authorised period.
The pilot scheme will run for 12 months and will apply to both business and tourist visas, according to the State Department’s notice.
It targets nationals from countries identified as having high overstay rates or with insufficient vetting information, at the discretion of consular officials.
Approximately 500,000 individuals reportedly overstayed their authorised duration in the US during the fiscal year 2023, which runs from October to October.
The specific countries affected by this measure have not been disclosed.
However, around 40 countries, mainly in Europe, participate in a visa waiver programme that allows a 90-day visit.
In recent months, the US president has tightened visa-granting conditions for several countries, particularly in Africa, amid Washington’s anti-immigration push.
On Monday, the US announced the suspension of visa issuance to Burundi nationals, citing “repeated violations” by citizens of the Central African country.
Since returning to office in January, Donald Trump has prioritised the fight against illegal immigration.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to an AFP request for further information.
