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U.S. Introduces $15,000 Visa Bond for Certain Travelers
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Policy targets nations with high overstay rates and deficient vetting.
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Funds refunded if visa terms are met, forfeited if overstayed.
The United States government has announced a new policy requiring some visa applicants to pay a bond of up to $15,000 before their visas can be issued.
The pilot program, unveiled by the U.S. State Department, is scheduled to begin on August 20 and will run for 12 months.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the notice, applicants from countries with “high visa overstay rates,” as identified in a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report, will be required to make the payment as a condition for receiving B-1 and B-2 non-immigrant visas.
The funds will be refunded if the applicant complies with all visa terms but forfeited if they overstay. Countries “with deficient screening and vetting systems” or those that grant citizenship without residency requirements may also be affected.
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance,” the notice stated, adding that those subject to the policy must enter and depart the U.S. through pre-selected airports.
The initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown aimed at discouraging visa overstays and strengthening national security. The list of affected countries has not been disclosed.
A State Department spokesperson told AFP that the program “reinforces the Trump Administration’s commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and safeguarding U.S. national security.”
