In a move that underscores his administration’s hardline stance on immigration, President Donald Trump has introduced a controversial new visa policy requiring certain foreign nationals to pay up to $15,000 as a security deposit for visiting the United States. The pilot program, announced through a notice in the Federal Register on August 5, is the latest addition to a series of restrictive immigration measures that have defined Trump’s presidency. While the administration defends the initiative as a tool to curb visa overstays, critics warn it could harm international relations, tourism, and an already fragile economy.

Set to begin on August 20, the one-year pilot program gives US consular officers the discretion to demand a visa bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 from applicants seeking B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visas. The bonds will be required from travelers hailing from countries deemed to have high rates of visa overstays, insufficient vetting infrastructure, or those offering citizenship through investment without requiring residency.

While the State Department has not yet disclosed the full list of affected countries, it is expected to resemble those previously targeted by Trump’s travel bans-nations such as Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen, which have been cited in official reports for significant overstay problems. According to a recent US Customs and Border Protection report, more than 500,000 individuals were flagged as “Suspected In-Country Overstays” in 2023. The countries with the highest numbers included Mexico (49,000), Colombia........

© Blitz