The United States announced Wednesday that starting April 2, citizens from 12 more countries will need to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for certain visas, expanding the program to 50 nations.

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

The bond, set at $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 depending on the applicant and consular officer’s discretion, is refundable if a visa is denied or if recipients comply with the terms of their stay and leave the US on time.

The U.S State Department said the program is aimed at reducing illegal visa overstays, noting that nearly 97 per cent of about 1,000 bonded travelers have returned home on time.

“The Department may continue to place Visa Bonds on countries based on a range of immigration risk factors,” it added.

Recall the Donald Trump administration in a notice in January introduced a travel restriction for Nigerians, mandating that those applying for a B1/B2 visa to enter the United States must post bonds of up to $15,000.

The B1/B2 visa is a US non-immigrant visitor visa that permits short-term travel for business or tourism, including attending meetings, conferences, or visiting family and friends.