The U.S. State Department has proposed a visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 for certain foreign visitors, sparking controversy over its potential impact on travel to the United States.
The proposed rule, set to be published on Tuesday in the Federal Register, would launch a 12-month pilot programme targeting applicants for business and tourist (B-1/B-2) visas from countries with high overstay rates or weak internal security and screening systems.
The notice said that the bond amounts would be set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the applicant’s country of origin and other factors.
The programme would last for 12 months and would apply to nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates or deficient.
The list of affected countries would be made public once the programmr takes effect, 15 days after formal publication.
:’Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program,” the notice said.
The proposed bond would not apply to nationals of countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme, and may be waived on a case-by-case basis depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
The State Department argued that the pilot programme was designed to ensure that the U.S. government is not financially liable if a visitor does not comply with the terms of their visa.
The measure is part of a broader effort to tighten U.S. immigration and visa policy, including stricter rules for visa renewals and new passport requirements for entrants into the Diversity Visa Lottery.
Meanwhile, critics argued that the bond proposal could deter travel to the United States, particularly for individuals from countries with limited financial resources.
The said that the proposal could also complicate the application process, adding an additional layer of complexity and expense for applicants.
Some also argued that the proposal sent a message that the U.S. is closing itself off to the world, potentially damaging its reputation as a welcoming destination for international visitors.
Advocates argued that the bond proposal could provide financial incentives for visitors to comply with immigration rules, reducing the number of visa overstays.
Supporters also argued that the proposal could help address security concerns by ensuring that visitors were held accountable for their actions while in the United States.
The proposal is currently open for public comment, and its impact on travel to the United States remains to be seen.
