In the future, people from 50 countries will have to pay a deposit of $15,000 when entering the USA.Image: keystone
Mar 18, 2026, 8:36 p.mMar 18, 2026, 9:28 p.m
When entering the USA, business travelers and tourists from twelve other countries will in future be required to pay a deposit – including the Football World Cup participant Tunisia. The US State Department announced that the list will be expanded to 50 countries on April 2nd. With the deposit of 15,000 dollars (around 13,000 euros), the US government says it wants to prevent those entering the country from overstaying their visas and incurring costs for taxpayers.
In addition to World Cup participant Tunisia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea and the Seychelles are also new on the list. The pilot project was started last August and applies to tourists and business travelers. According to the ministry, the number of visa holders overstaying their period of stay has since decreased significantly.
Expulsion costs $18,000
The deposit should be refunded if the travelers adhere to the guidelines or do not start the trip. According to the information, it costs American taxpayers an average of $18,000 if a foreigner has to be taken out of the country. According to previous information, visitors from countries in the so-called Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are not affected. (sda/dpa)