WASHINGTON, United States — The United States (US) says, beginning August 20, Malawi and Zambia are to be the first countries where a pilot programme requiring certain visa applicants to pay up to US$15,000 bonds to enter the country will be applied.

The US Department of State said Tuesday, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of US$5,000, US$10,000, or US$15,000,  determined at the time of the visa interview.

The US had indicated that the bond would apply to travellers from countries with high visa overstay rates and weak internal document security.

In addition to the bond amount, these visitors will be restricted to three ports of entry and exit.

Applicants will be required to submit a special form to post a bond after being directed to do so by a consular officer, and pay via a direct link through Pay.gov.

Noting that a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, the department warned that if any individual pays fees without being directed to do so by a consular officer, that money will not be returned.

The bond will be returned once individuals leave the United States within the authorised time; if the person never travels to the US before the visa expires, or is denied admission at a US port of entry.

However, the bond will be considered breached if travellers leave the US after the authorised date, do not leave the US at all, or try to “adjust out of nonimmigrant status, including claiming asylum”.