"The visa bond program functions, in essence, like a security deposit that's layered on top of the standard visa process. It applies to visitors applying for a B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visa..."
She and her husband spent $55,000 over the past year to make their Kansas City-area home more appealing for short-term renters. The four-bedroom home features the kind of touches - cozy TV-watching areas, an outdoor fire pit, and newly purchased furniture - that should be catnip for visitors. Since the listing went live in December, however, the home has drawn only a handful of bookings. The first stay didn't offer much encouragement: the guests trashed the place, causing about $1,200 in damage.
Next weekend, the Super Bowl and opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics will kick off a packed season for live sports. Advertisers and media buyers have been investing in these big-ticket events since last summer. But some marketers are thinking beyond February, to June - and amending their contingency plans should political events in the U.S. derail this summer's soccer World Cup.