The United States Department of State has announced the first foreign citizens to be subject to bonds of up to $15,000 should they visit the country on tourist visas.
On Tuesday, Zambia and Malawi, both African countries, were the inaugural entries on a list of countries that the State Department will subject to visa bonds.
The idea, announced earlier this week, is to impose bonds on countries whose citizens have high rates of overstaying their US visas.
Tourists from those countries would have to pay an amount ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 at the time of their visa interview to enter the US. Then, if the tourist departs on or before their visa’s expiration, that amount would be refunded to them.
The money would also be returned if the visa were cancelled, if the travel does not occur, or if the tourist is denied entry into the US.
Should a tourist overstay their visa — or apply for asylum or another immigration-related programme…
