By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United States has expanded its visa rule, adding seven more countries to a list requiring passport holders to post bonds of up to $15,000, a move aimed at ensuring that visitors comply with visa terms.
The bond requirement which affects mostly African countries is part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to tighten US entry rules. The newly added countries include Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan.
They join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October last year.
According to a notice on government website, the new designations added last week by US State Department took effect on January 1.
The seven new countries added to the list brings the total to 13, most of them in Africa, a move that makes US visas unaffordable for many applicants from the continent.
In recent months, visa applicants from all countries have also been required to attend in-person interviews, share years of social media activity, and provide detailed information about their own and their families’ travel and living history.
US officials say the bonds, which range from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000, help ensure that visitors do not overstay their visas. The administration maintains that the measure improves compliance with visa rules.
Paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be approved. The amount is refunded if a visa is denied or when a visa holder proves that they have followed the terms of their stay.
