US State Department Expands Visa Bond Program to 12 More Countries, Requiring $15,000 Deposit

Washington D.C. The US State Department announced on Wednesday that foreigners from 12 additional countries, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Georgia, will now be required to deposit $15,000 to obtain a visa.

The US State Department stated, "The latest decision will bring the Trump administration's 'Visa Waiver Program' to 50 nations, effective April 2."

This program, which applies to both short-term business and tourist visas, was initiated last year as part of the Trump administration's broad crackdown on illegal immigration to deter foreigners from overstaying their authorized period.

The money will be refunded if the applicant complies with all visa conditions. The funds will be forfeited if the applicant remains in the United States beyond the stipulated time.

A fact sheet issued by the US State Department noted, "Approximately one thousand foreigners have been issued visas under this program, and 97 percent of the travelers bound by conditions have returned home from the US on time."

The new nations added to this program are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.

Other 38 countries include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, and Fiji.

This group also included Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.