Initiative aims to reduce visa overstays and strengthen compliance
The U.S. State Department has proposed a 12-month pilot program that may require some applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition for entering the country.
Who would be affected by the new requirement?
The proposed measure targets nationals from countries identified as having high visa overstay rates, inadequate internal document security controls, or those offering citizenship through investment without residency requirements. Bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 may be imposed, with the goal of ensuring visitors comply with the terms of their visa and minimizing financial risk to the U.S. government.
The program would go into effect 15 days after its formal publication in the Federal Register and would not apply to citizens from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows short-term travel for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa.
Flexibility and historical context
The bond requirement may be waived based on individual applicant circumstances. Although similar proposals have been considered in the past, they were not implemented due to concerns over procedural complexity and public perception. However, the State Department indicated that these concerns lack supporting evidence from recent practice, as visa bonds have not been widely used in recent years.
A final list of countries subject to the pilot program will be published once it is officially enacted.
