U.S. Launches Up to $15,000 Visa Bond Pilot for Some Visitors
The U.S. State Department has unveiled a 12-month pilot program that could soon mandate certain visa applicants to pay a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, a move designed to curb visa overstays.
Starting on August 20, 2025, consular officers will have the discretion to require such bond payments from individuals applying for B‑1 (business) and B‑2 (tourist) visas if they come from nations with high overstay rates, inadequate screening systems, or where citizenship-by-investment schemes exist.
The bond will be refunded if the visitor complies with all visa terms and departs the U.S. on time. However, overstaying, or applying for asylum or permanent residency while in the States, will result in forfeiture of the bond.
Though the full list of affected countries hasn’t been released, the Department of State confirms the program will initially affect passports from countries identified in the DHS 2023 overstay report. At least one early list, published August 5, includes Malawi and Zambia, and more may be added with at least 15 days’ notice before implementation.
Travelers required to post a bond must also enter and leave the U.S. via designated airports, Boston Logan (BOS), JFK New York, or Washington Dulles (IAD), so their departure is properly tracked.
The bond program is part of a broader tightening of visa policies under President Donald Trump’s administration in its second term, which includes proposed visa integrity fees of $250 and expanded scrutiny of visa applicants’ social media activity.
What Travelers Need to Know
Who pays: Consular officers may require a bond of $5K, $10K, or $15K for B‑1/B‑2 visa applicants from specified countries.
Exemptions: Visa Waiver Program countries, such as most European nations, Australia, Japan, will not be impacted.
Refund rules: The bond is refunded if visa conditions are met and the traveler leaves before expiration. If the letter of stay is violated, the bond is forfeited.
Pilot duration: Runs from August 20, 2025, to August 5, 2026, after which the program will be evaluated and may inform future policy.