With Nepal’s inclusion, applicants applying for the United States business and tourist visas will have to deposit a bond of up to USD 15,000 from January 21 onwards. So far, the US has extended this policy to 38 countries. The exact bond amount, whether USD 5,000, USD 10,000, or USD 15,000, will be decided by consular officers based on the applicant’s circumstances.
According to the Department of State, the bond will be refunded after the visa is granted and the applicant provides proof of complying with visa conditions and leaving the US on time. The US has categorised tourist visas under B-1/B-2 visas, and most Nepalis travel to the US under these categories.
The policy was extended to countries with high rates of overstays beyond the minimum allowed duration or with weaknesses in document security. This policy was initially piloted in August of last year for a limited number of countries. According to notifications from the Department of State and the Federal Register, not all visa applicants are required to submit a bond.
