WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has nearly tripled the number of countries that require passport holders to post a deposit of up to $15,000 before applying to enter the United States.
Less than a week after adding seven countries to the list of countries subject to visa bonds, bringing the total to 13, the U.S. State Department on Tuesday added 25 more countries. The latest increase in margin requirements will take effect on January 21, according to a notice posted on the Travel.state.gov website.
The move means 38 countries, mostly in Africa but also some in Latin America and Asia, have been added to the list, making it unaffordable for many to obtain a U.S. visa.
It is the latest move by the Trump administration to tighten U.S. entry requirements, including requiring citizens of all countries that require visas to be interviewed, disclose years of social media history and detailed descriptions of previous travel and living arrangements for them and their families.
U.S. officials have defended the bonds, which range in value from $5,000 to $15,000, insisting they are effective in ensuring citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas.
Paying the deposit does not guarantee a visa, but the amount will be refunded if the visa is refused or if the visa holder proves they have complied with the terms of the visa.
As of January 21, new countries covered by visa deposit requirements include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
They join Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Zambia.
