US adds seven countries to list of countries where citizens must pay “visa deposit”

this trump card The U.S. government has added seven countries to the list of countries where passport holders must post a deposit of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.

Currently, there are 13 countries on the list, all but two of which are in Africa, making obtaining a U.S. visa unaffordable for many.

this State Council Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan were quietly added to the list last week.

The designations take effect Jan. 1, according to a notice posted on the Travel.state.gov website.

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It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to tighten entry requirements into the United States, including requiring interviews for citizens of all countries that require visas.

They must also 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.

New countries covered by the requirement include Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were all added to the list in August and October last year.

“Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found to be eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a security deposit of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the U.S. State Department wrote in its statement. website.

“The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview. Applicants must also submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352. Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through Pay.gov, the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform. This requirement applies regardless of where they apply.”

Visa holders must also enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry or they may face being denied entry or having their departure not properly documented, the State Department said.

Ports of entry include Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).