The State Department is preparing to launch a pilot program that will require foreign nationals from certain countries to pay a deposit of up to $15,000 for business or tourist visas, according to CBS News.
The notice outlines the details of a 12-month “visa pilot program” that will allow consular officers to require visa deposits. Under the program, the document states that deposits may be required for travelers from countries that the State Department has determined have high rates of visa overstays or where screening and verification information is considered incomplete.
The program will take effect 15 days after the official publication of the notice and will be in effect until August 2026, the document states.
