The U.S. State Department has made permanent a visa bond program that can require certain tourist and business visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates to post cash bonds of up to $20,000. The policy took effect Aug. 3, according to the Korean article.
Under the program, consular officers may require a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 after an individual review. The requirement applies to nationals of 50 countries designated by the State Department based on overstay rates, identity-verification and information-sharing standards, and cooperation with U.S. entry screening.
Thirty of the designated countries are in Africa, while the list also includes Cambodia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program are excluded.
Applicants who pay the bond and meet the visa requirements can receive visas valid for three to 12 months. The deposit is refunded in full if the traveler leaves the United States in compliance with the conditions, but it is forfeited if the person overstays or violates the bond conditions, including by seeking asylum in the U.S.
Applying for an extension of stay or a change of status legally is not, by itself, a violation. However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may consider the fact that a bond was imposed as a negative factor when reviewing such applications.
