US, Aug. 2 -- A program credited with virtually eliminating overstays among bonded travelers is also shutting out thousands of legitimate visitors-predominantly from Africa-and redirecting tourism and business opportunities toward competing destinations. Beginning Monday, August 3, the United States will permanently authorize consular officers to require many otherwise qualified business and leisure travelers from 50 designated countries to post a refundable visa bond of between $10,000 and $20,000 before receiving a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa.

The money is called a visa bond. It is refundable when the traveler follows all visa conditions and leaves the United States on time. For a family of four, however, the temporary cash requirement co...