Nepal among nations hit by US $15,000 visa bond from April 2

KATHMANDU: The US Department of State (DOS) on Wednesday said foreigners from an additional 12 countries, including Cambodia, Ethiopia and Georgia, will be required to pay a $15,000 deposit to receive certain US visas. The department confirmed that Nepal remains listed under the scheme, so Nepali nationals are subject to the bond requirement for some short‑term visas.

The latest additions will bring the Trump administration's visa bond programme to 50 nations when it takes effect on April 2, the AFP reported. The programme applies to short‑term business and tourism visas and was launched last year in a bid to reduce overstays as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration.

Applicants who comply with all visa terms will have the funds returned. If an applicant remains in the United States beyond the permitted stay, the deposit will be forfeited.

The State Department fact sheet said nearly 1,000 foreigners have been issued visas under the programme so far, and 97% of bonded travellers have returned home on time.

The 12 new nations added to the programme are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. The 38 other countries already listed include Nepal.

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