Tourists from 23 countries will have to pay a $ 15 deposit to enter the United States

Potential tourists and visitors from more than 20 countries, mostly in Africa, may have to pay a $ 15 security deposit to obtain a U.S. visa under a new rule from the administration of President Donald Trump. Edition CBS News told about the innovation.

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The State Department said the requirements are intended to send a "signal" to certain countries to induce their citizens to comply with the conditions for obtaining US visas. The State Department said it chose countries whose citizens often remain in the United States after their visas expire.

As part of a six-month pilot program starting December 24, U.S. Consulate staff can begin requiring applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas (tourist and business) from selected countries to pay a $ 5, $ 000, or $ 10 deposit.

“The pilot program is intended to apply to citizens of certain countries with high visa overstay rates to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all necessary measures to ensure the timely departure of their citizens from the United States after temporary visits,” the rule states.

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Of the 23 countries subject to the new rules, 15 are African. These are Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe and Sudan.

Visa applicants from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Iran, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Syria and Yemen may also be required to pay a deposit.

It is unclear whether Joe Biden's incoming Democratic administration will change or suspend visa rules. Biden has pledged to reverse many of President Trump's immigration innovations, which collectively have limited the ability for people living overseas to enter the United States on a permanent or temporary basis.

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Under the new rule, the number of cases expected to be affected by the new rules is “relatively small” as the deposit will only be required for visa applicants from the designated countries. The pilot program does not apply to student visa applicants or immigrants.

The rule dictates that consular officers generally require a $ 10 bond, unless they decide it should be $ 000 because the visa applicant will not be able to pay the standard amount. Officers can also raise it to $ 5 if they deem that the $ 000 bond would not be enough to ensure that the applicant leaves the United States before the visa expires.

Consulate staff can analyze the purpose of travel, job, income, skills and education of the visa applicant in order to draw these conclusions.

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Those eligible for the rule may be able to waive the fee if consular officials conclude that their case is of “significant” national or humanitarian interest.

Bail visa holders are eligible for a full refund, including accrued interest, if they fully comply with the terms of their stay in the United States.

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