Citizens of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda must secure visa bonds of up to US$15,000 to apply for Visas to enter the United States.

In a sweeping and controversial escalation of United States immigration controls, citizens of Dominica AND Antigua and Barbuda will now be required to post visa bonds of up to US$15,000 in order to apply for entry into the United States, under a newly expanded policy announced by the U.S. State Department.

The measure, implemented under the administration of former U.S. President, dramatically expands a pilot visa bond programme that U.S. officials say is designed to curb visa overstays.

Less than one week after adding seven countries to the visa bond list—bringing the total to 13—the U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced the inclusion of 25 additional countries, raising the total to 38. According to a notice published on the official travel.state.gov website, the new bond requirement will take effect on January 21.

While most of the affected countries are in Africa, the inclusion of Caribbean states has triggered alarm across the region, particularly given the long-standing social, economic, and family ties between Caribbean nations and the United States.

Under the policy, certain visa applicants from listed countries may be required—at the discretion of U.S. consular officers—to post a bond ranging from US$5,000 to US$15,000 as a condition of applying for a non-immigrant visitor visa.