The US can ask foreign nationals from some nations to make a $15,000 (£11,300) payment as a deposit for a visitor or business visa. The 12-month pilot scheme is intended to discourage visa overstaying, “or where screening and vetting information is deemed to be wanting”, a notice issued by the US state department says.
It does not detail which nations are included in the pilot scheme. The US government has implemented several measures to advance President Donald Trump’s policy of curbing illegal immigration. Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office during his second term to this end.
The state department notice, released on Tuesday, states: “Aliens seeking visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are citizens of countries that the Department identifies as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is lacking, or providing Citizenship by Investment, if the alien acquired citizenship with no requirement of residence, are subject to the pilot program.”.
“Consular officers can require covered non-immigrant visa applicants to execute a bond of not more than $15,000 as a visa condition, at the discretion of the consular officers. Trump has signed orders since he took office in January to reverse humanitarian programs for migrants from specific countries who are already in the US.
The Republican president has also prohibited foreign nationals of 12 nations from visiting the US, and partially restricted seven others. His administration has cancelled visas for scores of international students and arrested several others on university campuses around the US, frequently with no warning or opportunities for appeals.
The state department has stated that it is aiming at those who engaged in pursuits that “run counter” to US national interests. Numerous of those targeted have been involved in some activity pro-Palestinian in nature.
There have, however, been other instances where cancellations seem to be related to individuals with some type of criminal record, or legal violations such as speeding over posted limits, immigration attorneys have stated.
