The Trump administration has introduced via a ‘temporary final rule’ a visa-bond pilot program where applications from certain countries traveling to the US for business or as tourists will have to furnish a bond, it’s denomination can be as high as $ 15,000.
However, as the overstay rate for Indians traveling on B1/B2 visas (business and tourist visas) is not high, Indians are excluded from having to furnish such a bond under the pilot program.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, nearly 12.26 lakh Indians who had visited the US on these two visas were expected to depart, or in other words, the authorized period of their visa tenure expired within this fiscal year. Only 13,203 overstayed which resulted in India’s overstay rate of 1.08% – much below the 10% which the Trump administration is focussed on targeting.
The temporary final rule was published on November 24 and the pilot program will come into effect, 30 days post that, which is by the end of December. It will apply to nationals of specified countries with high overstay rates, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Yemen, and several African countries.
It is intended to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all appropriate actions to ensure that their nationals timely depart the US after their temporary visit.
The pilot program will run-up to June 24, 2021, during which period consular officers may require visa applicants falling within the scope of this program to furnish a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. The amount of the bond will be determined by the consular officer based on the circumstances of the visa applicant.
TOI in its coverage of the Trump administration’s spring agenda issued in July had covered this proposal. Ironically, the temporary final rule states that the purpose of the pilot is to evaluate the operational challenges and is not aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the bonds for reducing overstays.
Mean-while, With 38,772 new coronavirus cases and 443 deaths in the past 24 hours, India’s overall tally stood at 94,31,692 on Monday, as the fatality toll touched 1,37,139, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Currently, there are 4,46,952 active cases, whereas 8,84,76,00 patients have been cured and discharged so far.
The recovery rate stands at 93.81 percent, and the fatality rate is 1.45 percent, the Ministry said.
“India continues to have one of the lowest deaths per million population globally (presently 99). Focussed measures to ensure a low and manageable fatality rate have resulted in daily mortality figures of less than 500,” it added.
Maharashtra continued to be the worst-hit state with 1,820,059 cases till date. There are 92,062 active cases and 47,071 Covid-19 deaths.
According to the Ministry, over 70 percent of the daily new cases are contributed by eight States and UT i.e. Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh.
