Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Matthew Lee at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.
The Trump administration has nearly tripled the number of countries whose passport holders must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. visas, expanding the list from 13 to 38 nations predominantly in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Some key facts:
• The State Department added 25 more countries to the visa bond requirement list on Tuesday, bringing the total to 38 countries.
• The bond requirement for the newly added countries takes effect on Jan. 21.
• Most affected countries are located in Africa, with additional nations in Latin America and Asia.
• Visa bonds can range from $5,000 to $15,000, making the visa application process unaffordable for many applicants.
• Payment of the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.
• The bond amount is refunded if the visa application is denied or when the visa holder demonstrates compliance with visa terms.
• The new additions include Nigeria, Venezuela, Cuba, Bangladesh, Nepal, Angola and 19 other nations.
• U.S. officials defend the bonds as effective measures to prevent citizens of targeted countries from overstaying their visas.
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