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The U.S. government expanded the list of countries whose citizens will need to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for visas, in a move aimed at curbing illegal stays in the country.
According to a report by the agency AP, the Department of State has added 12 new countries whose citizens will be subject to this requirement starting April 2, including Nicaragua, Georgia, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.
The measure is part of a program implemented by the administration of President Donald Trump last year, which establishes bond payments of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the applicant's profile and at the discretion of the consular officer.
With this expansion, the total number of included countries rises to 50.
Cuba had already been part of this list since January 2026, alongside other nations such as Venezuela, Bangladesh, and Nigeria.
The State Department claims that the program has been effective in reducing visa violations.
According to their data, nearly 97% of the almost 1,000 people who paid these bonds did not remain in the United States after their visas expired.
The policy mainly targets countries with high rates of irregular residency and is part of a broader approach by Washington to reinforce immigration control and reduce illegal flows.
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