Sri Lanka, Aug. 5 -- The U.S. State Department is set to roll out a pilot program that may require foreign nationals seeking business or tourism visas to post a bond of up to 15,000 U.S. dollars to enter the United States, according to a preview of a bond notice posted on the Federal Register website on Monday.

Under the 12-month "visa bond pilot program," consular officers could require certain business and tourist visa applicants to post guarantee bonds of 5,000 U.S. dollars, 10,000 dollars or 15,000 dollars, according to the notice set to be officially published on Tuesday.

The program will take effect 15 days after the notice is officially published.

The bonds may be required for travelers from countries that the State Department i...