The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) has expressed concern over a proposed policy by the US State Department that could require certain visa applicants to post bonds of up to US$15,000 to enter the United States.
AMCHAM called for T&T to be exempted from this measure, citing the country’s strong record of compliance with US visa conditions.
In a media release, the organisation emphasised that the proposed bond requirement would be unjustified if applied to T&T nationals, referencing data from the US Department of Homeland Security, which shows that this country has one of the lowest visa overstay rates in the region.
At just 2.43%, AMCHAM said this figure reflects a consistent pattern of respect for US immigration laws and should be taken into account when crafting new visa policies.
It stressed the importance of maintaining strong bilateral relations between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, particularly in areas of trade and investment.
AMCHAM T&T said it remains committed to working with all stakeholders to promote transparent, secure, and mutually beneficial travel and business exchanges between both countries.