US State Department Proposes Mandatory Bonds for Visa Applicants

The US State Department is proposing a 12-month pilot program that would require applicants for business and tourist visas from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the US. The program aims to ensure the government is not financially liable if a visitor does not comply with visa terms. The countries affected will be listed once the program takes effect.

The US State Department has announced a 12-month pilot program that will require applicants for business and tourist visas from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. This initiative, which aims to ensure the government is not financially liable if a visitor does not comply with visa terms, will be in effect for a year beginning on August 20, 2025 [1].

The pilot program will target nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or that offer citizenship by investment with no residency requirement. Consular officers will have the discretion to require a bond amount ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the assessed risk of overstaying [2].

The bond will be returned to the applicant if they comply with the terms and conditions, including timely departure from the United States. The list of countries subject to this pilot program will be announced no fewer than 15 days before its implementation [3].

This move follows a similar proposal from the first Trump administration, which was never fully implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration had floated the idea of using bonds as a "diplomatic tool" to ensure visitors leave the US on time and do not overstay their visas [4].

The pilot program aims to assess the effectiveness of this approach and may lead to full implementation if deemed successful. The countries affected will be announced soon, and the program will be monitored closely to evaluate its impact on visa compliance and overstay rates.

References:
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/state-department-visa-bonds-00492077
[2] https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250805000200315
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/us-announces-new-visa-rules-some-business-travellers-tourists-may-have-to-pay-15000-in-bonds-soon-check-trump-administrations-latest-move/articleshow/123098597.cms
[4] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-visa-crackdown-new-move-could-bring-in-15-000-bonds-for-tourist-b1-b2-visas-101754316329653.html