Clarifying recent news about U.S. visa deposits and the countries currently affected by the new policy.
A growing concern among many Nepalis planning to visit the United States is whether they now need to pay a security deposit of up to $15,000 to obtain a U.S. visa. This rumor has caused anxiety, but the actual situation is more nuanced.
The U.S. Department of State has not implemented such a requirement for all countries. The deposit policy is currently a pilot program applied only to travelers from two African countries — Malawi and Zambia. This measure was introduced after many citizens from these countries overstayed their tourist or business visas and did not return on time.
Under this policy, travelers from Malawi and Zambia applying for a U.S. tourist or business visa may be asked to pay a security deposit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. If the traveler returns to their home country on or before the visa expiration date, the deposit is fully refunded. However, if they overstay or violate visa terms, the deposit will be forfeited.
Key points to note:
- The deposit rule currently applies only to Malawi and Zambia, not Nepal or other countries.
- The amount ranges between $5,000 and $15,000.
- Deposits are refundable upon timely return.
- Forfeited if the visa holder overstays.
- The U.S. government may extend this policy to other countries in the future as part of its visa management strategy.
U.S. officials have described this as a pilot program aimed at addressing visa overstays and indicated the possibility of expanding it to other countries depending on outcomes.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
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