Latest news with #overstays
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump closer to new travel ban for two more countries
The State Department is rolling out a yearlong pilot program that will require certain travelers looking for US tourism or business visas to pay a significant bond, hoping to stop people from overstaying their welcome. It's a decision that could make the process unaffordable for aspiring visitors - and force them to rethink their plans altogether. The department outlined the new 'visa bond' initiative this week, which targets countries with high rates of visa overstays. The list will first apply to nationals of Malawi and Zambia applying for a tourist visa, but could be amended throughout the program to consider other countries. The pair of African countries were targeted first because they have a high rate of unauthorized overstays. According to State Department officials, the bond could reach as much as $15,000 per person, though officers will typically set the amount at $10,000 per adult and $5,000 per child. The amount will be determined during the visa interview. The department adds that the bond payment will be returned if the applicants comply with all of the terms set in the visa. The Daily Mail reached out to both embassies for a reaction to this move, and learned that they were not communicated with by either the White House or State Department on the changes. The Republic of Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs Mulambo Haimbe told the Daily Mail, 'The Zambian government views this development with serious concern, given its potential economic implications on trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. This includes the unnecessary financial strain on Zambian Nationals.' The Minister added, 'The decision is contrary to the spirit of the meeting held with His Excellency, Mr. Michael Gonzales, Ambassador of the United States of America to Zambia, at State House in Lusaka on July 9, 2025, which centered on exploring new pathways to deepen the enduring partnership between the two nations,' adding that they are now taking immediate steps to engage with the US government through diplomatic channels. The Malawi office of the Ambassador also responded to the Daily Mail, saying, 'The Embassy has not been officially informed about this trending news. As such, the Embassy has no comment at this point.' David Bier, director of immigration studies at the CATO Institute, told the Daily Mail the policy is 'incoherent' and amounts to an admission 'it will likely just ban people from coming, not just result in compliance.' 'There is no reason to impose such a draconian rule,' Bier added.
CNA
7 days ago
- Business
- CNA
US to Require Bonds of Up to $15,000 for Some Tourist Visas Under Pilot Programme
WASHINGTON: The United States could require tourist and business visa applicants to pay bonds of up to US$15,000 under a pilot programme launching in two weeks, as part of efforts to deter overstays, according to a government notice released on Monday (Aug 4). Under the one-year initiative, US consular officers will have discretion to impose the bonds on travellers from countries with high rates of visa overstays or where screening and vetting information is considered insufficient. The scheme, set to begin on Aug 20, is part of President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on illegal immigration, which has included ramped-up border enforcement and tighter entry restrictions. Trump's administration issued a travel ban in June affecting citizens from 19 nations, and his immigration agenda has led to a decline in inbound tourism. According to industry data, transatlantic airfares fell to pre-pandemic levels in May, and travel from Canada and Mexico to the US dropped 20 per cent year-on-year. Consular officers will choose from three bond amounts, US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, though they are generally expected to require at least US$10,000. The funds will be returned if travellers leave the country in line with their visa terms. The pilot mirrors a similar initiative launched in November 2020 during Trump's first term, which was not fully implemented due to the collapse in global travel caused by COVID-19. It remains unclear how many travellers will be affected. However, many countries named in Trump's current travel ban, including Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar and Yemen, have among the highest overstay rates. Several African nations, such as Burundi, Djibouti and Togo, were also identified for excessive visa overstays in US Customs and Border Protection data for fiscal year 2023.
