US tightens visa policy for seven new countries

WASHINGTON, DC: The US government has tightened its requirements for visa policy adding seven new countries to the list whose citizens will have to post a bond of between $5,000 and $15,000 when applying for a visa.

Most of these countries are from Africa, bringing the total number of countries on the list to 13. According to the Associated Press, the US State Department had previously added Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia to the list last year.

The latest decision now adds Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan to the list. The new requirement went into effect on January 1.

US officials say the bond requirement is to ensure that citizens of certain countries do not stay in the US illegally after their visas expire.

However, officials have clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. If the visa is rejected or the visa holder meets all the conditions, the deposited amount will be returned.

The US sank trillions of dollars in the Afghan war, the US Inspector General’s report reveals. The move is being described as a continuation of the policy of former President Donald Trump’s administration to further tighten the visa application process, under which it has been made mandatory for visa applicants to provide personal interviews, social media history, and complete details of previous travel and residence.

According to experts, this decision will make it more difficult and expensive for citizens of many countries to obtain US visas, while its negative effects are also feared to hurt international travel, trade, and business relations.