United States to Enforce Tourist Visa Bonds of Up to $15,000

The U.S. will launch a pilot program requiring some tourists to pay up to $15,000 in visa bonds to reduce overstays. The one-year policy targets travelers from countries with high overstay rates and excludes those in the Visa Waiver Program. Bonds will be refunded if visitors leave on time.

Some tourists planning to visit the United States will soon be required to sign financial bonds of up to $15,000 (€13,000), according to a newly announced pilot program that is set to begin in two weeks. This development was revealed in a government notice and is part of a broader immigration control strategy introduced by the U.S. State Department.

The primary goal of the program is to discourage visa overstays by foreign visitors, which have long been a concern for U.S. immigration authorities. Visa overstays occur when individuals remain in the country beyond the expiration date of their authorized stay. To address this, the State Department is granting consular officials the authority to impose financial bonds on certain visa applicants as a deterrent.

According to the notice, there will be three different bond amounts that consular officials can require from travelers—$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. However, it is generally expected that a minimum bond of $10,000 will be applied in most cases. The exact amount will depend on the applicant’s risk level and country of origin.

This move comes at a time when the administration of former President Donald Trump was actively enforcing stricter immigration policies and taking steps to prevent illegal immigration, including targeting those who enter legally but remain in the country unlawfully. The proposed bond requirement aligns with that broader agenda.

The notice explains that the bonds will be imposed at the discretion of U.S. consular officials, particularly for applicants coming from countries identified as having high rates of visa overstays. This discretion allows officials to consider individual circumstances and country-specific data when making their decisions. The policy is set to be formally published in the U.S. Federal Register on Tuesday.

In addition to targeting countries with frequent overstays, the bond program also applies to visitors from nations that the U.S. government says do not provide adequate screening or verification information for visa applicants. This aspect of the policy is intended to enhance national security and ensure that the U.S. has sufficient information about who is entering the country.

The pilot program will officially take effect on August 20 and is expected to last for approximately one year. It applies specifically to nonimmigrant B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa categories. As part of the conditions, those subject to the bond requirement must both enter and depart the United States through designated airports that have been pre-selected by U.S. authorities.

A spokesperson for the State Department told AFP news agency that the initiative reflects the administration's commitment to upholding immigration laws and protecting U.S. national interests. The spokesperson emphasized that the bond program is just one element of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.

Notably, the government has not released a list of specific countries that will be affected by this new policy. The notice and spokesperson clarified that the rule will not apply to travelers from all countries. Instead, only certain nations will be included based on their visa overstay records and the adequacy of their screening systems.

Travelers from countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program will not be impacted by this bond policy. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of select countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. These travelers are considered low-risk and are therefore exempt from the bond requirement.

Once the program goes into effect, the U.S. government will publish the list of countries subject to the bond requirements. The notice also mentions that consular officers may waive the bond for some applicants, depending on their personal situation, travel history, or the strength of their ties to their home country.

Importantly, the financial bond is refundable. According to the notice, travelers who comply with the terms of their visas and leave the U.S. within the authorized period will have their bond money returned to them. However, failure to comply could result in the forfeiture of the bond and potential future visa denials.

The program represents a significant policy shift in the U.S. approach to managing visa compliance and border security, aiming to create stronger incentives for foreign visitors to follow immigration rules while maintaining a degree of flexibility for consular decision-making.