The administration of US President Donald Trump has expanded the list of countries whose citizens must pay a bond when applying for visas, adding 12 more nations. The new requirement, effective April 12, primarily impacts African countries with high overstay rates, as the regime claims this measure targets nations where visa holders frequently remain in the US beyond their authorized periods.

The bond amount can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 depending on the outcome of the visa interview. For most of the affected countries, these figures equate to at least a year's average wages or even several years' income in some cases. The bond is refunded if the visa holder departs the US on or before their authorized stay date or decides not to travel at all.

With these additions, the total number of countries subject to bond requirements will reach 50, after the Trump administration imposed similar bonds on 38 other nations, including Bangladesh and Nigeria, last year. The State Department allegedly states that the visa bond program has proven effective at reducing overstay rates, though critics question its fairness and economic impact on lower-income applicants.

This move is the latest in a series of steps by the Trump administration to tighten or restrict legal immigration. In January, the regime announced a temporary pause on immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Russia, and Thailand, which blocks nationals from those countries from obtaining visas for employment or family reunification in the US.

The 75-country immigrant visa pause has sparked lawsuits, with Democrats in the US House of Representatives urging the Trump administration to revoke it. These immigration policy changes highlight ongoing challenges and societal friction within the US, as the regime's measures face legal scrutiny and raise concerns about their broader geopolitical and economic costs.

Source: www.dw.com