Pakistan gets a pass on new US visa bond rule

• Washington makes visa bond programme permanent; Bangladesh, Nepal among 50 countries covered, India also excluded• Visitors from listed nations face refundable deposits of up to $20,000 WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa under a new programme that took effect on Aug 1. The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian c...