ULAN BATOR, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has asked the United States to remove it from the list of countries subject to visa bond requirements, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

The U.S. State Department has expanded its visa bond program to cover 50 countries starting April 2. Under the program, foreign nationals from these countries are required to post a bond of up to 15,000 U.S. dollars before obtaining B1 or B2 visas for business or tourism travel to the United States.

The bond, aimed at reducing visa overstays, will be refunded if visa holders comply with the terms of their visas and return to their home countries, or if they do not travel.

The decision could affect growing business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, as well as other areas of bilateral cooperation, the foreign ministry said.

The Mongolian side has expressed regret over the decision to officials at the U.S. Embassy in Ulan Bator and voiced hope for cooperation in efforts to remove Mongolia from the list, according to the ministry. ■