Travellers visiting the US for business and leisure could be forking out up to US$15,000 to enter the country under new proposals put forward by Donald Trump’s government.
The BBC reports that the State Department is launching a 12-month pilot programme under which people from countries deemed to have high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls could be required to post bonds when applying for a visa.
The department said that the move would ensure the state was not financially liable if a visitor abused the terms of his or her visa.
The countries affected will be listed once the programme takes effect, it said.
Tourists and business travellers would receive their bonds back when they depart the US, are naturalised as a citizen or die, according to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations.
The bond would not apply to citizens of countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Programme, which enables travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days. These countries include a mix of European nations, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
The BBC said the Trump administration is tightening requirements for visa applicants. Last week, the State Department announced that some visa renewal applicants would have to undergo an additional in-person interview, something that was not previously required.
The bond policy will build on the president’s June travel ban, mainly impacting countries in the the Middle East and Africa. but including Myanmar .