Summary of this article
US launches visa bond pilot for travelers from countries with high overstay rates.
Consular officers can impose bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The move aims to deter visa overstays and tighten immigration controls.
The US may soon begin requiring certain tourist and business visa applicants to pay bonds of up to $15,000 as part of a new pilot program set to launch in two weeks. According to a Federal Register notice, US consular officers will be allowed to demand bonds from applicants coming from nations known for high rates of visa overstays.
The new visa bond program will start on August 20, 2025 and is expected to run for about a year. Consular officers may set bonds at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount will be refunded if travellers leave the US in line with the terms of their visas. The program will require certain applicants for B-1/B-2 non-immigrant visas, typically used for business and tourism purposes, to pay the bond amount before entering the US, according to a Reuters report.
The initiative comes in the wake of President Donald Trump calling for stricter immigration controls, including reducing illegal immigration and visa overstays.
Trump has also enforced a travel ban affecting 19 nations on national security grounds and strengthened border security, which has contributed to a decline in international travel. Travel from Canada and Mexico reportedly dropped by 20 per cent year-on-year, while transatlantic airfares fell to pre-pandemic levels.
US State Department spokesperson also said that countries targeted by the program will be selected based on visa overstay rates, gaps in vetting processes, issues with citizenship-by-investment programs, and broader foreign policy concerns. The list may be updated as needed.
Additionally, a recent Congressional spending package introduced a $250 “visa integrity fee” for approved non-immigrant visa applicants, effective October 1, 2025. While the fee may be reimbursed for those who follow visa rules, the US Travel Association has expressed concerns that it could discourage international travel and make US visitor visa among the costliest in the world.
