WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is making permanent a pilot programme under which citizens from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, are required to post bonds to apply for a United States visa, and it is raising the cost as well, to as much as US$20,000.

A draft notice published Friday in the Federal Register says a nearly year-long review “provided sufficient data” to suggest the bond programme effectively enforces compliance with visa conditions and would be made permanent.

The notice is to be formally released on Monday, the day the programme becomes permanent, and additional countries may be added to the list, which can be found here.