Travelers from Grenada and Nicaragua will soon face steep new costs to visit the United States (US), after the State Department announced they will be included in an expanded visa bond programme taking effect April 2.
Under the policy, nationals from the two countries will be required to pay a refundable bond ranging from US$5,000 to US$15,000 before being issued B1/B2 visas for tourism or business travel.
The measure is part of a broader expansion that brings the total number of affected countries to about 50, many of them in Africa, according to U.S. officials.
The visa bond programme was introduced by President Donald Trump administration last year as part of efforts to curb immigration violations. Authorities say the policy targets countries with high visa overstay rates, where visitors remain in the US beyond their authorized period.
In the Caribbean and Latin America, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, and Venezuela are also among those subject to the requirement.
The bond will be refunded if applicants either do not receive a visa or comply fully with the terms of their stay.
While the U.S. government maintains the policy is necessary to strengthen immigration compliance, critics argue that the high fees could make travel to the US inaccessible for many applicants from affected countries.