The State Department is launching a pilot program that would demand migrants from some countries to deposit a bond of up to $ 15,000 to obtain a visa for business or personal trips.
The rule, published on Monday by the department, does not list the affected countries, but indicates that it will focus on those with high permanence rates after the expiration of the visa or with a poor internal investigation.
Certain countries will be notified 15 days in advance, and its citizens could be requested to deposit a bail of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 dollars.
Trump administration stops visas to foreign students, while investigating their social networks
The State Department argued that the program could “serve as a crucial diplomatic tool to force other countries to address the excessive stays of its citizens and to correct the deficiencies in their standards and practices of identity verification.”
“The department believes that these three levels will grant consular officials the discretion to demand a bond for a sufficient amount to ensure that the foreigner does not exceed the allowed stay, taking into account the circumstances of the applicant of the visa,” said the standard.
However, the pilot program will undoubtedly close the doors to many travelers who want to travel to the United States. The State Department has avoided considering the bail requirements to obtain a visa, since “the presentation, processing and cancellation processes of a bond are cumbersome.”
The new pilot program would not apply to the countries of the Visa Exemption Program, whose citizens do not need to request a visa before traveling.
