The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa bond program that could require applicants from 50 countries, mostly in Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 when seeking U.S. visas.
The policy appeared in a federal notice posted online Friday.
How much will applicants have to pay under the visa bond program?
Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, according to the notice. The final rule applies to B1 and B2 visas, issued for business and tourism travel, and eliminates the previous $5,000 bond option while raising the maximum to $20,000.
In the 2025 pilot program, consular officers could require bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or up to $15,000. The State Department said the pilot provided a framework for itself, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Treasury to assess the program's feasibility, and that the data collected suggests a visa bond program effectively enforces compliance among bonded visa holders.
Which countries are affected by the US visa bond rule?
The final rule takes effect August 3, when it is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register. Of the 50 countries whose citizens fall under the program, 30 are in Africa.
U.S. officials say the policy aims to reduce visa overstays among travelers from these countries. Immigration advocates argue instead that it will deter legitimate travel to the United States, creating a financial barrier for otherwise qualified applicants.
What do critics say about Trump's immigration crackdown?
Rights advocates say President Donald Trump's broader immigration crackdown violates free speech and due process, while creating an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities and encouraging racial profiling. Trump has defended the measures as necessary to strengthen national security.
Trump says he wants to curb illegal immigration, but his administration has also made legal immigration more difficult. It has imposed new and expensive fees for applicants of certain visas and expanded social media vetting for both applicants and immigrants already living in the country.
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