Washington, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : The United States has announced a new visa bond requirement affecting citizens from 50 countries. These individuals may need to submit a bond of up to $20,000 when applying for business and tourist visas. Notably, Indian passport holders are exempt from this rule. However, neighboring South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are included in the list.
The U.S. State Department released an updated list on Friday, detailing that applicants from these countries will be asked to provide a bond if they meet all other visa requirements for the B1/B2 visa. Depending on the applicant’s situation, the bond amount could be set at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 during the visa interview.
According to the State Department, the decision on the bond amount will be made by the consular officer during the interview process. This regulation does not apply to Indian citizens. For Bangladesh and Nepal, the bond requirement will take effect on January 21, while Bhutan will see it implemented on January 1. The list also includes several nations from Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific region.
The program is being administered under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This law allows consular officers to require a bond from applicants before issuing a visa. The current program was established under a final rule that took effect on August 3.
To determine which countries’ citizens are subject to this requirement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) utilizes data from its Entry/Exit Overstay Report. This report tracks instances where individuals enter the U.S. on temporary visas but remain beyond their authorized stay.
Applicants who fall under the visa bond requirement will also need to submit DHS Form I-352. Additionally, they must accept the bond conditions through the U.S. Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. The State Department has advised applicants not to make any payments until instructed by the consular officer.
The bond can be submitted by the applicant or a third party, such as a friend, relative, or business associate. If all bond conditions are met, the individual who paid the bond will receive a refund.
It’s important to note that submitting the bond does not guarantee visa approval. Travelers required to pay a visa bond must adhere to additional regulations for entering and exiting the U.S., including using commercial airports equipped with U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities.
Under the program’s stipulations, applicants are prohibited from using charter flights, general aviation, ground routes, or seaports for travel. Any potential violations of bond conditions will be referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for determination.
This visa bond initiative aims to reduce instances of individuals overstaying their temporary business or tourist visas in the United States. The U.S. government bases its decisions on bond requirements on DHS data related to visa overstays.
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