The US State Department has announced it will require travellers from certain countries to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States. This pilot programme targets B-1 business and B-2 tourism visas, starting August 20, focusing on countries with historically high visa overstays.
By its design and intention, the Pilot Program is a tool of diplomacy, intended to encourage foreign governments to take immediate action to reduce the overstay rates of their nationals when traveling to the United States for temporary visits, and to encourage countries to improve screening and vetting and the security of travel and civil documents, including in the granting of citizenship.
