US Launches Visa Bond Program August 20

The US State Department will launch a 12-month pilot program beginning August 20, requiring some B-1/B-2 business and tourist visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates or weak document security to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The bonds are intended to deter visa overstays and minimize financial risk to the US government, which faces hundreds of thousands of annual overstays. Affected countries will be announced soon, and travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries are exempt. The initiative is part of broader Trump-era efforts to tighten immigration controls, including stricter in-person interview and documentation requirements. Waivers for the bond may be granted on a case-by-case basis. The policy, raising concerns about affordability, is being closely monitored as it is implemented for the first time.