WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has expanded a controversial visa policy requiring citizens of certain countries to post bonds of up to US$15,000 when applying to enter the United States, adding seven more nations to the list.
According to the U.S. State Department, passport holders from Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan are now subject to the bond requirement. The changes took effect Jan. 1, based on a notice posted to the department’s travel website.
With the additions, 13 countries are now covered by the policy, all but two of them in Africa. Critics say the requirement makes U.S. visas financially out of reach for many prospective travellers.
The measure is part of a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to tighten entry requirements for foreign nationals. Other steps include mandatory in-person visa interviews for applicants from all visa-required countries, expanded disclosure of social media histories, and detailed reporting on applicants’ and their families’ past travel and living arrangements.
U.S. officials say the bond policy, which ranges from US$5,000 to US$15,000, is intended to discourage visa overstays. While payment of the bond does not guarantee a visa will be approved, the money is refunded if the visa is denied or once the traveller demonstrates compliance with the terms of their stay.
The seven newly added countries join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October of last year.
Speaking previously about tighter immigration controls, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended measures aimed at strengthening enforcement and compliance, arguing they are necessary to protect U.S. borders and immigration integrity.
The State Department has not said whether more countries could be added to the list in the future.