As part of its crackdown on immigration, the US State Department has announced that it will start requiring travellers from certain countries to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States.
The 12-month pilot programme affects B-1 business and B-2 tourism visas and starts on August 20. It targets travellers from countries with historically higher rates of visa overstays, according to the department’s temporary final rule published on August 5 in the Federal Register. If visitors comply with the terms of the bond, the amount will be refunded.
On Tuesday, the State Department confirmed that visitors from Zambia and Malawi would be the first to be targeted under the new policy.
The rule follows a travel ban on nationals from 12 countries and other new fees being levied on US visitors.
The new rule targets citizens from countries with high visa overstays. It excludes visitors from Mexico, Canada and the more than 40…
