Pilot program targets applicants from countries with high overstay rates and weak document controls
The US State Department is proposing a pilot program that would require applicants for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000, a move that could significantly raise the cost of travel for citizens from certain countries.
According to a notice scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the initiative is set to launch as a 12-month trial. It targets individuals from countries identified as having high rates of visa overstays or lacking adequate internal document security. Under the program, applicants may be required to submit bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 when applying for US visas.
Tighter visa rules under the Trump administration
The proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to increase scrutiny of visa applicants. Just last week, the State Department introduced new requirements mandating additional in-person interviews for many visa renewals, procedures that were previously waived.
In another development, the department proposed that applicants for the Visa Diversity Lottery must possess a valid passport from their country of citizenship at the time of application.
Visa bond pilot details
The pilot program will become effective within 15 days of its formal publication. Its aim is to prevent the US government from incurring costs when travelers overstay their visas.
The official notice states that “aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure,” from countries with high overstay rates, deficient vetting systems, or those offering citizenship without residency requirements, could be subject to the bond.
The specific countries affected by the policy will be named once the program goes into effect. However, the bond requirement may be waived on a case-by-case basis, depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Visa waiver program exempt
Travelers from countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be exempt from the bond requirement. The VWP permits citizens from 42 countries—primarily in Europe, as well as some in Asia and the Middle East—to enter the US for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa.
Previous bond proposals and concerns
While the idea of visa bonds has surfaced in the past, it has never been implemented. Historically, the State Department discouraged the practice, citing the administrative burden and public misperception it could cause. However, the current notice states that such concerns are unsupported by recent evidence, as visa bonds haven’t been actively used in recent times.
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