The US visa bond requirement will now apply to applicants from Seychelles, according to the United States State Department.
The department said it will require citizens of 12 additional countries to post bonds of up to $15,000 (about SCR 217,000) when applying for certain visas. As a result, the programme will expand to 50 countries.
The measure will take effect on 2 April. It will apply to applicants from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.
Under the policy, applicants may need to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The amount will depend on the applicant and the discretion of the consular officer.
However, the State Department said the bond is refundable in specific cases. It stated: “The bond, set at $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 depending on the applicant and consular officer’s discretion, is refundable if a visa is denied or if recipients comply with the terms of their stay and leave the US on time.”
In addition, the department said the programme aims to reduce illegal visa overstays. It noted that nearly 97% of about 1,000 bonded travellers have returned home on time.
Furthermore, it indicated that the list of countries may change. It said: “The Department may continue to place Visa Bonds on countries based on a range of immigration risk factors.”