It has become even more difficult for Tajik citizens to obtain a US visa

The United States has expanded the list of countries whose citizens must pay a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for a visa. Tajikistan has been included in the list.

The U.S. State Department has presented a new list of countries whose citizens are required to pay a bond for obtaining a visa of up to $15,000 when applying for a U.S. entry visa.

The list includes Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, as well as several countries in Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia, including Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are not included in the list.

According to the statement from the U.S. State Department, any citizen or subject traveling on a passport issued by one of the listed countries, who is otherwise deemed eligible for a B1/B2 visa, is required to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.

The B1/B2 visa (Business/Tourism) is issued for conducting business negotiations, attending conferences, and signing contracts, or for leisure and tourism, as well as visiting relatives.

The exact amount of the visa bond is determined during the visa interview. The applicant must also submit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security form I-352.

Additionally, the applicant must agree to the bond conditions through an online payment platform administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

This requirement applies regardless of the country in which the application is submitted, the statement notes.

The State Department explained that the additional payment is introduced as a measure aimed at ensuring that visa holders from the specified group of countries leave the U.S. before their visa expires. If they leave on time, the bond is refunded. However, if they violate the terms, the bond is not refunded.

Furthermore, the statement indicates that the bond is non-refundable in cases where the individual does not make the trip after obtaining the visa, if they violate the law and are subject to deportation, or if for specific reasons border authorities do not allow them entry into the U.S.