WASHINGTON, D.C. [US], October 3 (ANI): The United States has designated 50 countries whose citizens face visa bonds of up to $20,000 for tourist and business visas, leaving India exempt from the mandate while encompassing South Asian nations such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
On Friday, the State Department released a revised list of countries whose nationals must post financial bonds when qualifying for B1/B2 visas. Under the program, individuals traveling on passports from the specified countries are required to deposit bonds valued at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, with the exact amount determined by a consular official during the visa interview, according to the State Department.
Holders of Indian passports remain exempt from this obligation. As detailed by the State Department index, Nepal and Bangladesh have faced the mandate since January 21, while Bhutan was added beginning January 1. Additional nations spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia and the Pacific are similarly included.
The State Department noted that the program operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which empowers consular staff to require a bond before visa issuance. The current program originated from a final rule enacted on August 3, drawing on B1/B2 visa overstay statistics published in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.
Affected applicants are additionally required to file DHS Form I-352 and consent to bond conditions through Pay.gov, the digital payment system managed by the Treasury Department. Cautioning applicants against making premature transactions, the State Department stated, “Applicants should submit Form I-352 to post a bond only after a consular officer directs them to do so.”
Deposits may be made by the applicant personally or through third parties, including business associates, relatives or friends, with refunds directed to the depositor provided all bond conditions are satisfied. The State Department also emphasized that fulfilling the bond requirement does not guarantee visa approval.
Individuals subject to the visa bond are required to follow strict travel restrictions regarding entry and exit routes across the United States. Participants must use commercial aviation facilities, including Customs and Border Protection preclearance terminals, and are barred from using general aviation, charter aircraft, seaports or land borders. Potential violations are referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to determine whether a breach occurred.
The visa bond program seeks to address visitor overstays associated with temporary tourist and business travel, relying on Department of Homeland Security overstay data to identify nationalities subject to the requirement. (ANI)
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