Washington: The United States will now require citizens from Malawi and Zambia to pay a $15,000 deposit when applying for a tourist or business visa, as stated by the US state department. This new policy is part of a 12-month pilot program aimed at reducing visa overstays and addressing screening and vetting deficiencies.
According to BBC, this requirement could potentially expand to include citizens from other countries. The deposit, which will be returned upon the completion of the visit to the US, is determined by consular officers who may require non-immigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000.
The US Department of Homeland Security's 2023 data reveals overstay rates of approximately 14% for visitors from Malawi and 11% for those from Zambia. Other nations with significant overstay rates include Haiti at 31%, Myanmar at 27%, and Yemen at 20%.
Since January, the Trump administration has actively pursued policies to limit immigration, including rolling back humanitarian programs and imposing travel bans on foreign nationals from 12 countries. Partial restrictions have also been placed on an additional seven countries.
The administration has revoked visas for hundreds of international students and detained several others on US college campuses, often without prior notice or the opportunity for appeals. The state department has justified these actions by targeting individuals involved in activities contrary to US national interests, which includes participation in pro-Palestinian activities and instances involving criminal records or legal infractions.