Key facts
- The U.S. Department of State has made a visa bond program permanent, requiring some visa applicants from 50 countries to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000.
- The U.S. Travel Association fears the program could be expanded to more countries, warning of negative economic and travel industry impacts.
- The administration claims the program reduced visa overstays by over 99% in pilot countries.
- The program targets countries with high visa overstay rates or security deficiencies.
- Overseas travel to the U.S. has declined year-to-date, with the travel association hoping for policies that encourage visitation.
The U.S. Travel Association has voiced concerns over the potential expansion of a visa bond program, which the U.S. Department of State recently made permanent. The program requires certain visa applicants from 50 countries, predominantly in Africa, to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000, a measure implemented to curb visa overstays.
Geoff Freeman, President of the U.S. Travel Association, told Reuters that there are indications the program could be broadened to include all countries requiring visas. He warned that such an expansion would severely damage the U.S. economy and its travel industry.
The State Department stated that during the pilot phase, visa issuances in covered countries decreased by 83%, and overstays dropped from over 45,000 in fiscal 2024 to fewer than 50 during the pilot period. The program targets nations with high overstay rates or deficiencies in information sharing and document security. New countries can be added with 15 days' notice, and bonds can be forfeited for violations.
Freeman highlighted that while the currently affected countries represent less than 2% of U.S. visitors, the broader travel industry is already struggling with a 25% decline in travel from Canada and a 50% reduction in travel from Asia compared to 2019 levels. Overall overseas travel to the U.S. has fallen 4.3% year-to-date as of June. The association had hoped for policies encouraging international visitation, especially after the World Cup, rather than those that discourage it.