Key facts
- The U.S. State Department is making a pilot visa bond program permanent.
- Citizens from 50 countries, predominantly in Africa, must pay bonds to apply for U.S. business and tourist visas.
- The maximum bond amount has been increased from $15,000 to $20,000.
- The program's stated goal is to enforce visa conditions and reduce visa overstays.
- Critics contend the bond requirement unfairly burdens individuals from less affluent nations.
The U.S. State Department is making permanent a pilot program that requires citizens from 50 countries, primarily in Africa, to post bonds to apply for U.S. visas. The maximum bond amount has been increased to $20,000, up from $15,000 under the pilot program.
A draft notice published in the Federal Register indicates that a review found the bond program effectively enforces compliance with visa conditions. The program requires holders of passports from affected countries to pay the bond for business and tourist visas (B1 and B2 visas). The bond is refunded if the visa application is denied or if the individual adheres to the visa terms.
The program was initially rolled out by the Trump administration to address visa overstays and curb illegal migration. Government estimates suggest that arresting and deporting visa overstayers costs approximately $18,000 per person.
Critics argue that the program imposes an unnecessarily harsh burden on individuals from impoverished countries seeking to visit family, pursue education, or engage in business opportunities in the U.S. The State Department, however, views the program as a success, noting that in the first 10 months of the pilot, overstays from these countries were fewer than 50, compared to nearly 45,500 in 2024. The department expects the final rule to further reduce demand for B1/B2 visas from nationals of countries subject to the program.