U.S. quietly expands list of countries whose citizens must pay up to $15,000 bonds for visas

"The Trump administration has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States. Thirteen countries, all but two of them in Africa, are now on the list, which makes the process of obtaining a U.S. visa unaffordable for many. The State Department last week quietly added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan to the list."

"It's the latest effort by the Trump administration to tighten requirements for entry to the U.S., including requiring citizens from all countries that require visas to sit for in-person interviews and disclose years of social media histories as well as detailed accounts of their and their families' previous travel and living arrangements. U.S. officials have defended the bonds, which can range from $5,000 up to $15,000, maintaining they are effective in ensuring that citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas."

Seven countries — Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan — were added to the U.S. visa bond requirement, raising the total to thirteen countries. Passport holders from listed nations must post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to apply for U.S. visas. Payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance; refunds are issued if a visa is denied or the holder complies with visa terms. The designations took effect Jan. 1. Additional recent measures require in-person interviews for all visa applicants and disclosure of years of social media histories and detailed travel and residence records.

Read at Fast Company