U.S. to Impose Bonds Up to $15,000 on Certain Visa Applicants

The U.S. Department of State is set to launch a 12-month pilot program starting August 20 that will require certain applicants for tourist or business visas to post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. According to the Associated Press, this initiative targets individuals from countries with high rates of overstaying or those with inadequate internal document control systems.

The primary aim, as outlined in a notice to be published in the Federal Register, is to safeguard the U.S. government from potential financial liabilities if a visitor fails to comply with the terms of their visa. Notably, this program will not impact citizens from countries under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows for travel up to 90 days without a formal visa for tourism or business purposes.

Consular officials will have the discretion to apply these bonds, with expectations that in most cases, at least $10,000 will be imposed, as revealed in a document referenced by Reuters. The bonds are refundable if the visitor departs the U.S. within the authorized timeframe.

This move is part of a broader tightening of immigration policies under Donald Trump's administration, which has prioritized reducing illegal immigration. Last week, the State Department also announced that many visa renewal applicants will now be required to attend additional in-person interviews, a requirement previously waived.

Furthermore, applicants for the Diversity Visa Lottery must now present valid passports issued by their country of citizenship as part of the updated process requirements. Reuters noted that a similar program was proposed at the end of Trump's first term in 2020 but was not fully implemented due to the global tourism downturn during the pandemic.

Although the specific countries affected by this measure have not been disclosed, recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection highlights several African nations, including Chad, Eritrea, Burundi, and Togo, as having high rates of visa overstays. Additionally, a provision in a spending package approved by the U.S. Congress in July imposes an additional "visa integrity" fee of $250 on approved non-immigrant visa applicants, effective October 1, which may be refunded if exit conditions are met.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, as cited by Reuters, these policies could position the U.S. among the countries with the most expensive visa processes globally. This bond requirement adds to a series of restrictive measures recently enacted by U.S. immigration authorities. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans to make the citizenship test more challenging, introducing complex questions and assessments that could hinder the naturalization process for many immigrants.

The U.S. government also revealed that the immigrant visa fee will double starting in October, presenting a new financial hurdle for those seeking legal residency in the country. Concurrently, authorities have issued warnings to current visa holders, emphasizing that any violation, however minor, of their immigration status terms could lead to immediate visa cancellation and possible future penalties.

These actions underscore a clear trend towards strengthening the entry and legal stay filters in the U.S., even for those who already possess approved visas.