Rapid expansion
Less than one week before Tuesday’s announcement, the State Department had added seven countries to the bond list, bringing the total at that time to 13. Tuesday’s addition of 25 more pushed the count to 38.
U.S. officials have said the bonds are effective at ensuring that citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas. Posting the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. If a visa is denied, the bond amount is refunded; it is also returned when a visa holder demonstrates compliance with the visa’s terms.
Countries covered
The 25 countries added Tuesday, effective January 21, are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
The 13 countries already subject to the bond requirement before Tuesday’s expansion are Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and Zambia.
Broader entry requirements
The bond program is part of a broader set of measures tightening U.S. entry conditions. The State Department has also begun requiring citizens of all visa-required countries to attend in-person interviews and to disclose social media histories, along with detailed accounts of prior travel, accommodation arrangements, and family information.