US Tightens Visa Rules: 7 New Nations Face $15,000 Bond for Entry

• US expands controversial visa bond policy, requiring up to $15,000 refundable bond from citizens of certain countries.
• Seven new countries added to the list on January 1: Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan.
• Total countries on the list now 13, mostly African nations, including Mauritania, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia from last year.
• Policy aims to reduce visa overstaying; bond is refunded if conditions are met and traveler leaves on time.
• The $15,000 bond (over 1.2 million Indian rupees) poses a significant financial hurdle for students, tourists, and business travelers.

Why It Matters: US visa process becomes costlier and more complex for citizens of 13 nations due to new bond policy.