The United States is set to launch a pilot program in two weeks allowing consular officers to require visa bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visa applicants, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.
The initiative is intended to curb visa overstays by focusing on travelers from countries with high overstay rates or limited vetting data. Starting August 20, U.S. consular officials will be able to impose bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with $10,000 being the likely minimum in most cases. The program will last for around a year. The State Department has not specified how many applicants may be subject to the bond requirement.
This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s efforts to tighten immigration controls, which have included a travel ban on citizens from 19 countries, many with high overstay rates—such as Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen.
A similar policy was introduced in November 2020, but it wasn’t fully enforced due to the pandemic’s impact on international travel.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from fiscal year 2023 highlights high overstay rates in several African countries, including Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, which could be impacted by the new policy.
Travel restrictions and visa regulations during Trump’s term have already led to a 20% decrease in travel from Canada and Mexico, and transatlantic airfare dropped to pre-pandemic levels by May.
Here are the Top Visa-Free Destinations for Travelers Holding a US Visa
