The U.S. Department of State has announced that starting from the 21st of this month, Fiji will be among the countries whose citizens will need to pay visa bonds when applying for B1/B2 visitor visas, which are primarily used for tourism and business purposes. Depending on the outcomes of their visa interviews, Fijian passport holders might be required to pay a bond amounting to US$5,000, US$10,000, or US$15,000.
The implementation of these visa bonds aims to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas, thus encouraging compliance with visa regulations. It’s important to note that the payment of a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. Any payments made without the guidance of a consular officer are non-refundable.
Once issued a visa, the bond will be automatically canceled and returned if the visa holder departs from the United States on or before their authorized stay, does not travel to the U.S. prior to the visa’s expiration, or if they are denied entry upon application at the U.S. port of entry.
Additionally, cases where visa holders might have violated the terms of the visa bond will be referred to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by the Department of Homeland Security. This includes situations where records indicate that a visa holder has overstayed their authorized duration in the U.S. or has applied to change their immigration status, including seeking asylum.
This new bond measure reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity and compliance of the U.S. visa system, aiming to maintain a balance between allowing legitimate travel and minimizing the risk of overstays.