Georgian Foreign Ministry links US visa bond requirement to high rate of violations

The Georgian foreign ministry on Thursday said the decision by the United States to introduce a visa bond requirement for non-immigrant visas issued to Georgian citizens was linked to a high rate of violations of US visa regulations by Georgian nationals.

The ministry called on Georgian citizens to strictly comply with US visa regulations and not to violate the existing visa regime, noting that this would enable the Georgian government to continue working with the American side on the issue.

“The decision by the United States to impose a visa bond requirement for the issuance of non-immigrant visas to Georgian citizens is, unfortunately, related to the high rate of violations of US visa policy by Georgian citizens, as explained by the US side”, the statement said.

The foreign office further added that stricter immigration approach reflects the broader policies of the administration of Donald Trump, which have resulted in tighter enforcement measures.

“Accordingly, we urge Georgian citizens to strictly comply with US visa regulations and not to violate the current visa regime, which will allow Georgia to continue working with the American side on this issue”, the ministry concluded.

The State Department is expanding its visa bond program to apply to a total of 50 countries on April 2 and will require foreign nationals from these countries to post a bond of $15,000 before receiving B1 or B2 visas for business and tourism in the United States. The bond will be returned to visa recipients who return home in compliance with the terms of the visa and the bond or does not travel.