The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa bond program that allows it to require applicants from 50 countries to deposit up to $20,000 as a condition for obtaining an American visa. This is reported by Reuters, writes UNN.
Details
The new rules apply to nonimmigrant visa categories B1 and B2, which are issued for business and tourist trips. According to the document, consular officers will be able to require applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 before issuing a visa.
The State Department noted that a pilot program launched in 2025 proved the effectiveness of such a mechanism. According to U.S. authorities, visa bonds help ensure compliance with the terms of stay in the United States and reduce the number of cases of overstaying the permitted period of stay.
Most countries on the list are African
The final rule will take effect on August 3 after publication in the Federal Register. It will apply to citizens of 50 countries, 30 of which are located in Africa.
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The new program will replace the pilot mechanism, which provided for bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Now the minimum option of $5,000 has been eliminated, and the maximum bond amount has been increased to $20,000.
U.S. authorities explain the innovation as a necessity to combat visa regime violations. At the same time, human rights organizations criticize the decision, believing it will create additional obstacles for lawful travel to the United States. Reuters also notes that the administration of President Donald Trump has recently tightened requirements for legal immigration, in particular introducing new fees and expanding checks of applicants on social media.