The US State Department is making a visa bond program permanent, which will affect citizens of 50 countries, mostly in Africa. This program requires individuals to post bonds when applying for a US visa. The cost of these bonds will also be increasing, with a maximum amount of $20,000.

A draft notice was published in the Federal Register, stating that the program has been effective in enforcing compliance with visa conditions. Further details about the program, including the list of affected countries, are available from the source. The program is set to become permanent, with the notice being formally released on Monday.