The State Department is launching a pilot program that would require migrants from some countries to post a bond as high as $15,000 to secure a visa for business or personal travel, the latest move by the Trump administration to crack down on countries with high visa overstay rates.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Monday rule<\/a>\u00a0posted by the department does not list which countries will be affected but said it would target those with high visa overstay rates or poor internal vetting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Selected countries will be given 15 days notice, and their nationals could be asked to post a $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 bond.<\/p>\n The State Department argued the program could \u201cserve as a critical diplomatic tool to compel other countries to address overstays by their nationals and to address deficiencies in their identity verification standards and practices.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Department believes these three levels will provide consular officers discretion to require a bond in an amount that is sufficient enough to ensure the alien does not overstay, while taking into account the visa applicant\u2019s circumstances,\u201d it said in the rule.<\/p>\n However, the pilot program will no doubt close the door to many travelers wishing to come to the U.S. <\/p>\n The State Department previously has shied away from considering bond requirements to secure a visa, as the \u201cmechanics of posting, processing and discharging a bond are cumbersome.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The move comes after the Trump administration enacted a new travel ban, barring travel from\u00a012 countries<\/a>\u00a0while limiting it for seven others.<\/p>\n The Trump administration cited visa overstay rates and concerns about vetting in rolling out the travel ban.<\/p>\n The new pilot program would not apply to countries in the Visa Waiver Program where citizens do not need to seek a visa in advance of travel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The State Department is launching a pilot program that would require migrants from some countries to post a bond as high as $15,000 to secure a visa for business or<\/p>\n