KATHMANDU: The U.S. government has expanded its list of countries whose citizens might be required to post a financial bond of up to $15,000 to secure a U.S. visitor visa, adding 25 new nations including Nepal. With these additions, the pilot program now covers a total of 38 countries.
According to the U.S. State Department, the new rule for countries such as Nepal will start on January 21. Under the policy, applicants who are otherwise eligible for B‑1 or B‑2 visas may have to submit a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the specific amount set during the visa interview, Reuters reported.
Visa applicants are required to complete the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration bond form (Form I‑352) only after a consular officer instructs them to do so, and payment must be made via the U.S. Treasury Department’s online platform, Pay.gov.
The State Department has cautioned against using third‑party sites for payment, noting that payments made outside official channels are not the government’s responsibility.
The bond requirement does not guarantee that a visa will be granted, and fees paid without direction from a consular officer will not be refunded. The pilot program, launched in August, targets countries identified in part based on visa overstay rates.
As part of the conditions, visa holders who post a bond must enter and exit the United States through specified ports of entry, Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, or Washington Dulles International Airport, failure to comply could result in denied entry or departure records not being properly logged.
The bond will be automatically canceled and refunded if the traveler leaves the U.S. within the authorized stay, does not travel to the U.S. before the visa expires, or is denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.
Countries currently subject to this visa bond requirement include Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.
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