For citizens of several countries, the cost of traveling to the U.S. has increased substantially. They now must pay a cash deposit that can be as much as USD 15,000 prior to knowing whether their visa application has been approved or denied. This new requirement took effect on January 1 and has received a lot of negative press.
An Increased Cost of Entry into the U.S.
The Trump administration has once again increased restrictions on foreign nationals looking to enter the U.S., with an emphasis on (7) seven additional countries that will now require visa applicants from those counties to provide a refundable cash security deposit with their visa application. These distances have received significant public backlash.
Why Is This Policy Being Implemented?
There are many traditional travelers, business visitors, and students who simply cannot afford such an exorbitant amount of money before they find out if they have been approved for a visa or not.
Newly Added Countries include:
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Central African Republic
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Namibia
- Turkmenistan
Numbering among those coming here, the majority of visa applicants are coming from Africa. As a result of this increase, there have been discussions regarding issues of equity and access.
At What Cost?
There is no set amount for a deposit; there is a range of deposits between 5k and 15k USD depending on which applicant type applies for which type of visa; and there is a huge difference between the upper limit of the deposit amount compared to most African applicants which could easily be a minimum.
Some officials in the U.S. government claim that the purpose of this deposit is to prevent “overstaying” of visas; however, the deposit is not the only way to obtain approval from Immigration Services.
There is More to the Process Than Deposits
It is not an isolated issue to just have a deposit; it is also about having to endure many more steps in the process of applying for a visa, such as:
- Mandatory face-to-face interviews
- A very detailed history of travel destinations and residences
- Providing a very detailed history of your online activity (social media)
- Information about family members.
The introduction of this new deposit policy only serves to make an already lengthy process much more complicated.
Where Does the Money Go?
The visa fee will be refunded if your visa application is denied, and if your visa is approved, you will receive a refund of your visa fee as well, as long as you fulfill all conditions of the visa and exit the USA prior to the expiration date.
This is not the first time that these countries have been targeted for such requirements. Last August and October, visa fees were charged for travelers from Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia.
Supporters of these policies believe that they hold travel accountability; however, opponents feel that they are only financially blocking low- and middle-income applicants. The end result is that for many people worldwide, travelling to the USA has become much more difficult and has also increased the price of doing so.
For many potential travelers, the deposit may just be the primary reason for never applying for a visa.
