The number of countries whose citizens must pay up to 20 million won in a so-called "visa bond" when applying to enter the United States has roughly tripled. Most are African nations, but Venezuela, which was recently hit by U.S. airstrikes, is also included.
According to the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs website on the 6th (local time), the number of countries subject to the visa bond stands at 38. That is an addition of 25 countries from the previous 13. Nationals of the designated countries applying for short-term U.S. visas must pay a bond ranging from $5,000 (about 7.25 million won) to as much as $15,000 (about 21.74 million won).
The list includes Cuba, which is at odds with the United States along with Venezuela, and newly adds African countries such as Nigeria, Algeria and Uganda, as well as Asian countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
This is seen as the latest move by the Donald Trump administration to raise barriers to entry into the United States. Earlier, President Trump required in his second term that nationals of all countries seeking to enter the United States undergo mandatory in-person interviews and provide years of social media records, among other requirements.
The U.S. government says the visa bond system is a mechanism to ensure compliance with the period of stay. In practice, visitors whose visas are denied or who comply with the conditions of an issued visa can have the bond refunded.
However, paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued, and even if a visa is granted, nationals of the designated countries can enter and exit only through three international airports: Boston Logan, New York JFK and Washington Dulles.