Some Foreign Visitors Face Up To $15,000 Bond To Enter US Under New Programme

The Trump administration is implementing a pilot programme under which foreign visitors arriving in the US on tourist or business visas could be required to pay a "bond" of up to USD 15,000 to ensure they don't overstay their visas.

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The countries that would come under the purview of the programme have not been announced yet.

The US State Department has issued a 'temporary final rule' under which a 12-month long visa bond pilot programme will be started.

The State Department said that under this pilot programme, foreign individuals applying for the B-1/B-2 visas to come into the US for business or tourism could be required to post a bond of up to USD 15,000.

The Department said that the rule is described as a "key pillar of the Trump administration's foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting".