U.S. to require visa bonds of up to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries, including Kyrgyzstan

AKIPRESS.COM – The United States starting from August 3 will permanently allow consular officers to require visa bonds of up to $20,000 from applicants for B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas from certain countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.  

According to the U.S. State Department, the refundable bond serves as a guarantee that travelers will comply with the terms of their stay and leave the country before their visa expires. The policy follows a year-long pilot program under which bond amounts ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.

The New York Times previously reported that U.S. authorities had detained foreign nationals with overstayed visas at airports across the country. According to the newspaper, inspections were carried out at at least 15 U.S. airports. The Department of Homeland Security said the measures are aimed at identifying foreign nationals who are illegally present in the United States.