Antigua and Barbuda remains among the countries whose nationals could be required to pay a substantial refundable bond when applying for certain United States visitor visas, following a decision by Washington to make its visa bond programme permanent.

The new rule, announced Friday by the US Department of State, takes effect on August 3 and gives consular officers the authority to require selected applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourism visas to post bonds of US$10,000, US$15,000 or as much as US$20,000.

The bond is refundable and is intended to encourage travellers to comply with the conditions of their visas. Applicants who meet the requirements of their stay, or who ultimately do not travel to the United States, are eligible to have the bond returned.

Antigua and Barbuda, which was placed under the programme earlier this year, remains one of four Caribbean countries affected, along with Cuba, Dominica and Grenada. The programme also covers several countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Importantly, the bond requirement does not automatically apply to every Antiguan and Barbudan seeking a US visitor visa.

Consular officers will determine on a case-by-case basis whether an applicant is required to post a bond based on the criteria established under the programme. Visas that have already been issued are not affected by the new rule.

The visa bond initiative was initially introduced as a pilot programme aimed at reducing visa overstays and strengthening compliance with US immigration requirements. According to the State Department, the results of the pilot supported the decision to establish the programme on a permanent basis.

Under the permanent arrangement, the maximum bond has been increased from US$15,000 to US$20,000. The previous US$5,000 minimum option has also been removed, meaning applicants selected for the programme could now face a minimum bond of US$10,000.

The development is likely to attract significant attention in Antigua and Barbuda, particularly among residents who frequently travel to the United States for business, vacation, shopping and to visit relatives.

However, inclusion on the list does not mean that every Antiguan and Barbudan visa applicant will be required to pay a bond. The requirement applies only when imposed by a US consular officer during the visa application process.