Georgian citizens will have to pay a $15,000 deposit for a US visa: the list now includes four post-Soviet countries.

Before the expansion, the list of countries whose citizens were required to pay a hefty deposit for a US visa already included three post-Soviet countries: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Georgia will be added to the list on April 2, according to Reuters.

The United States will require a $15,000 security deposit from visa applicants from 12 more countries. In total, the Trump administration will require citizens of 50 countries to post a $15,000 security deposit when applying for entry into the United States, a State Department spokesperson announced on Wednesday, March 18.

He said, on condition of anonymity, that 12 more countries are being added to the list of 38, mostly African, countries.

On the subject: The United States will not issue visas to Russians and citizens of 74 other countries.

The expanded visa deposit program, which requires foreign citizens to pay $15,000 to obtain B1 or B2 business and tourism visas, takes effect on April 2. According to a spokesperson, its purpose is to prevent visa overstays.

The new list of countries includes Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.

The representative noted that the deposit will be returned to visa recipients if they return home in accordance with the terms of the visa and deposit or do not use the trip at all.

Since taking office last January, Donald Trump has pursued a tough immigration policy, including aggressive deportations, visa and green card revocations, and background checks on immigrants' social media posts and past statements.

Human rights groups have condemned Trump's immigration and travel policies, claiming they curtail legal protections and freedom of speech. The White House president and his allies claim these measures are aimed at enhancing domestic security.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Last June, the US president imposed a travel ban that, for national security reasons, completely or partially barred citizens of 19 countries from entering the United States.

A State Department spokesman said the visa bond program has already reduced the number of people overstaying their visas.

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