The administration of US President Donald Trump has added 25 more countries to a list of nations whose citizens may be asked to pay a bond of up to $15,000 to apply for entry into the United States.

According to the US State Department website, the total number of countries on the list has now risen to 38.

The State Department said the rule for the newly added countries will come into force on January 21.

Most of the countries on the list are from Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, the website showed.

The US government has said the bond requirement is meant to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas, which are mainly issued for tourism or business.

Since returning to the office last January, Trump has followed a strict immigration policy. His administration has launched an aggressive deportation drive, cancelled visas and green cards, and increased checks on social media activity and past public statements of immigrants.

Human rights organisations have strongly criticised Trump’s immigration and travel policies, saying they weaken free speech and legal protections.

Trump and his supporters, however, argue that these steps are necessary to improve national security.

The State Department has not said how long the bond policy will remain in place.