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US to make visa bond permanent, a hurdle for many African travelers
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. State Department is making permanent a pilot visa bond program requiring citizens from 50 mainly African countries to post bonds, increasing the maximum bond amount to $20,000 for B1/B2 visa applicants.
- The bond is refundable if the visa is denied or the applicant complies with visa terms, and the program aims to reduce visa overstays and illegal migration.
- Since the program's implementation, visa overstays from these countries dropped from nearly 45,500 to fewer than 50 in the first 10 months, according to State Department data.
- Critics argue the bond requirement places a heavy financial burden on applicants from poorer countries, limiting opportunities for family visits, education, and business.
- The program has led to an 83% decline in business and tourist visas issued to nationals from the affected countries, with nearly half of applicants opting not to pay the bond.
