The U.S. Government is taking more steps to make sure people who come to visit follow the rules.
The State Department said Tuesday that more countries will now be included in a program that asks some travelers to pay a bond before they can come to the United States. This bond could be as high as $15,000.
Right now, 38 countries are on this list. Most of them are in Africa, but some are in Latin America and Asia too. This new rule could make it hard for many people to get a U.S. visa because they might not be able to afford the bond.
Starting January 21, people from countries like Venezuela will have to pay the bond.
If someone from these countries wants to visit the U.S., they might have to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The exact amount will be decided when they go for their visa interview.
Paying the bond doesn’t mean they will definitely get a visa. But if they don’t get the visa, or if they follow all the rules while they are in the U.S., they will get their money back.
This new rule is part of an idea that started last year. The government wants to make sure that people who come to the U.S. on a visa don’t stay longer than they are allowed to.
