A new 12-month pilot program may require a hefty visa bond for tourists from certain countries, adding a new layer to U.S. immigration controls.

The State Department is preparing a plan to force visa applicants from certain countries to post large bonds guaranteeing they will not stay in the United States beyond their visas. The department will begin a yearlong visa bond program in which foreigners applying for B-1 or B-2 visas and who are from countries the department

The State Department is proposing requiring applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.