The United States is set to launch a controversial pilot program requiring some foreign visitors to pay visa bonds of up to $15,000, in a bid to crack down on visa overstays. The program, announced in a Federal Register notice on Monday, will begin on August 20 and run for approximately one year.
Under the initiative, US consular officers will have the discretion to impose bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 on applicants for tourist and business visas. Officers are expected to generally require at least $10,000. The bonds will be returned if the traveller leaves the US on time, in line with their visa terms.
The policy applies to individuals from countries with high visa overstay rates or where the US has concerns about inadequate screening and vetting procedures. It also targets nations where citizenship can be acquired without residency and other “foreign policy considerations,” according to the State Department.
A spokesperson confirmed that the list of countries affected would be based on data and regularly reviewed. Nations such as Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen—many of which are already under existing travel restrictions—are likely to be impacted, as are several African countries with historically high overstay rates, including Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo.
This marks a revival of a similar visa bond pilot introduced in November 2020 during the final months of President Donald Trump’s administration. That program saw limited implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of global travel.
President Trump has consistently made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his presidency. His administration previously issued travel bans on citizens from 19 countries and passed policies that led to a measurable decline in international travel to the US. By May, transatlantic airfares had dipped to pre-pandemic levels, and travel from neighbouring Canada and Mexico had dropped by 20% year-over-year.
In July, Congress passed a new provision mandating a separate $250 “visa integrity fee” for non-immigrant visa holders, effective from October 1. This fee may be reimbursed if travellers comply with US visa terms.
The US Travel Association, which represents major players in the tourism industry, estimates the bond requirement could affect approximately 2,000 applicants from low-volume travel countries. The group warned that such measures risk deterring legitimate travel and may elevate the US to having the highest visa fees globally.
Critics say the bond program and accompanying fees could further dampen tourism and complicate international relations with low-income and developing nations. Still, the US government argues that these steps are necessary to ensure visa compliance and strengthen national security.
Follow us on:
