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A comment on U.S. mandates more foreign travelers to pay $15,000 visa bond deposits. Parent comment

Re:U.S. mandates more foreign travelers to pay $15,000 visa ... by kylehotchkiss on Friday January 09, 2026 @02:34PM (#46558156)
State Department was commanded to make a list of countries by visa overstay rate and all decisions made based on that sheet regardless of merit.

Just like tariffs were decided, and a bunch of microscopic pacific islands are being judged by trade deficits.

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Re:U.S. mandates more foreign travelers to pay $15,000 visa ... by badc0ffee on Friday January 09, 2026 @02:47PM (#46558330)
Visa overstay rate does at least relate to the issue at hand, because visa overstays are what they're trying to prevent. But trade deficits were never a good proxy.
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Re:U.S. mandates more foreign travelers to pay $15,000 visa ... by joecool1029 on Friday January 09, 2026 @05:31PM (#46560366)
It's just weird they were even on the radar. I guess I could see a blanket 'any country with over 10% overstaying, bond required'.

Otherwise can't think of any identity/tribal reason... maybe tobacco lobbyists requested since they tried to ban smoking?

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