US proposes visa bond of up to $15,000 to curb overstays

The U.S. State Department is suggesting a new visa policy in which people who apply for business or tourist visas may need to pay a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition for entering the United States. The goal is likely to reduce visa overstays and ensure compliance with immigration rules.

New policy could limit access for travelers

While the program may deter people from overstaying their visas, it could also discourage travelers from visiting. The U.S. government’s 12-month trial program could make travel to the U.S. much more expensive for people from many countries, particularly low-income or developing regions, potentially limiting access for legitimate travelers.

The new policy targets people from certain countries with high visa overstay rates and poor document security. These applicants could be required to pay a refundable deposit of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when applying for a visa.

Any foreign person subject to the visa bond will pay it to the U.S. Treasury. The traveler will get it back if they enter within 30 days of visa approval, provided they enter and exit through specific locations and leave before the visa expires.

Implementation timeline and uncertainty around affected countries

The notice was posted to the Federal Register website on Monday, and it’s set for publication Tuesday. The rule will become legally binding and enforceable 15 days after publication — meaning it will go into effect on Aug. 20.

The notice did not list which countries would be subject to the new visa bond requirement. So, as of now, it is not certain which travelers will be impacted. The list is coming soon and may change at any time, depending on U.S. government assessments.

“If the visa bond program is determined to be operationally feasible, it would serve as a critical diplomatic tool to compel other countries to address overstays by their nationals and to address deficiencies in their identity verification standards and practices,” the notice stated.