Overview
- A State Department notice posted Tuesday added 25 nations to the list, with the new requirements taking effect January 21.
- Applicants found eligible for B1/B2 visas must post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the amount set during the visa interview.
- Payments are made through the Treasury Department’s Pay.gov platform and the bond is refunded if the visa is denied or if the traveler complies with visa terms.
- Approved travelers who post bonds are restricted to entering the United States through Boston Logan, New York JFK, or Washington Dulles airports.
- Officials frame the policy as an overstay deterrent, while coverage notes added costs and vetting measures could disproportionately burden applicants from mostly African countries.