US to Pilot Visa Bond Program Starting August 2025

The U.S. State Department will initiate a 12-month pilot program on August 20, 2025, requiring some B-1 and B-2 business and tourist visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000. The program, part of broader Trump administration efforts to tighten immigration controls, will have consular officers determine bond amounts based on individual circumstances. Potentially affected countries include Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, Yemen, Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, though the list may change during the pilot. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries remain exempt. The bond is fully refunded upon timely departure but forfeited if applicants overstay. The initiative aims to improve compliance, inform future visa policies, and has raised concerns about affordability, tourism, and international relations.