US makes $20,000 visa bond programme permanent; India not on 50-country list

The US State Department has decided to make its visa bond programme permanent after successfully running it as a pilot scheme, expanding a policy aimed at reducing visa overstays. The programme currently applies to citizens of 50 countries.Under the new rule, consular officers may require certain applicants for US visitor visas to post a bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued. The regulation takes effect on August 3, when it is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register. US officials have indicated that additional countries could be added to the programme in the future, Reuters cites.India not on listThe visa bond programme currently covers citizens of 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, but India is not among them. This means Indian applicants for B-1 (busi