The United States is expanding a policy that requires non-immigrant visa applicants to pay a bond of up to US$15,000 before entering the country, as part of President Donald Trump’s wider push to tighten immigration rules.

Al Jazeera reported that the State Department has added 12 more countries to the scheme, bringing the total to 50. Most affected nations are in Africa, and critics say the high costs unfairly target people from lower-income backgrounds.

US officials argue the policy is meant to reduce the number of visitors who overstay their visas. According to the government, about 1,000 visas have been issued under the programme so far, with 97 per cent of recipients leaving the country on time.

The bonds apply to short-term business and tourist visas. Applicants may be asked to pay US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, depending on a decision made during their interview. Paying the bond does not guarantee a visa will be approved, but the money is refunded if the application is denied or if the traveller follows the visa rules.

The newly added countries are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. The rule will take effect on April 2, and officials say more countries could be added.

The bond system was introduced last year and is part of a broader effort by Trump, since returning to office in January 2025, to curb both legal and illegal immigration, particularly from poorer and non-Western countries.

Other measures include suspending visa processing for dozens of countries, increasing deportations, limiting asylum claims, and cutting refugee admissions to record lows. These policies have drawn criticism and could affect international travel, including attendance at the upcoming World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico.