Washington, March 19: The United States has announced an expansion of its visa bond program, set to take effect on April 2. The U.S. State Department revealed that foreign nationals applying for business and tourism visas (B1 and B2) will now be required to deposit a bond of $15,000.
This bond will be refunded to visa holders who comply with the visa conditions and return to their home countries on time, or who do not travel at all.
The initiative aims to reduce the incidence of overstaying visas. According to U.S. officials, approximately 1,000 foreign nationals have been issued visas under this program, with 97 percent returning home as scheduled.
In contrast, during the last year of the previous administration, over 44,000 individuals from the 50 countries now included in this program overstayed their visas in the U.S.
Starting April 2, 12 new countries will be added to this policy: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. These nations will join the existing 38 countries already subject to this rule, including Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The State Department indicated that this program could be expanded to additional countries in the future based on ‘immigration risk factors,’ meaning new countries could be added based on overstay statistics and compliance with regulations.
Officials have also highlighted the economic benefits of this policy. It costs an average of $18,000 to deport an individual living illegally in the U.S. By reducing overstays, U.S. taxpayers could save approximately $800 million annually.
This visa bond requirement specifically applies to short-term visas like B1 (business) and B2 (tourism). The bond serves as a financial guarantee to ensure compliance with visa conditions.
B1 and B2 visas are the most commonly issued non-immigrant visas, used for business, tourism, and family visits. The overstay rate is a significant metric for the U.S., influencing visa policy decisions.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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