WASHINGTON, Aug. 2: The United States has made permanent its visa bond Program for tourist and business visitors, requiring citizens from Nepal and 49 other countries to deposit up to US$20,000, more than Rs. 3 million, before obtaining a visa, international news agencies reported.
According to a report, the new rule, introduced by the US Department of State, applies to applicants from 50 countries, most of them developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, including Nepal and Bhutan.
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Under the policy, applicants seeking B 1 business or B 2 tourist visas may be required to pay a refundable bond of up to US$20,000 at the discretion of a US consular officer. The money will be returned if the visa application is denied or if the traveler leaves the United States on time after complying with all visa conditions.
The previous pilot Program required bonds of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, depending on the applicant's risk profile. Under the permanent rule, the US$5,000 option has been removed and the maximum bond has been increased to US$20,000.
The US government says the policy is intended to reduce visa overstays. According to the administration of President Donald Trump, it costs the government about US$18,000 to arrest and deport a person who remains in the country illegally. Officials say more than 45,000 visitors from countries on the list overstayed their visas in 2024.
According to first-year data from the Program, applications for US business and tourist visas from the affected countries dropped by as much as 83 percent after the bond requirement was introduced. US officials say the policy has been effective in encouraging compliance with visa conditions.
Earlier this year, the US State Department published a list of 50 countries covered by the Program. Besides Nepal and Bhutan, the list includes Bangladesh, Nigeria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Venezuela, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, Algeria, Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tonga and several other countries. Officials have said additional countries may be added in the future.
The decision has drawn criticism from immigration lawyers and rights advocates, who argue that the policy places an unfair financial burden on citizens of lower-income countries seeking to travel legally for tourism, business or family visits. Critics say the high bond requirement could discourage legitimate travel, while the Trump administration maintains that the measure is necessary to strengthen national security and curb illegal immigration.
