The United States has officially announced that starting January 21, Nepali citizens traveling to the U.S. on tourist or business visas may be required to deposit a security amount of up to USD 15,000.
According to a notice issued by the U.S. Embassy, the new rule will not apply to visas issued before January 21 (Magh 7).
The Embassy has urged applicants to remain alert and cautious regarding the security deposit. It clarified that any payment made before the visa interview will not be refundable, and if visa conditions are violated, the security deposit will also be forfeited.
The U.S. authorities have requested that the deposit be made only after visa approval and warned applicants not to make any payments before the interview based on promises or influence from individuals.
The notice also highlights that fraud cases have been reported from various sectors under the pretext of sending people to the U.S. It emphasizes that advance payments do not guarantee a visa, and applicants may be scammed through third-party websites.
