$20,000 for a Visa: US Prepares to Implement New Rules on Dozens of Countries - Sarmad

The United States plans to expand the visa bond program to include citizens of 50 countries, mostly in Africa, while raising the required bond amount for certain nonimmigrant visas to $20,000. Washington says this move aims to curb overstays, while critics argue it may impose additional restrictions on lawful travel to the country.

A federal notice published online indicated that the U.S. Department of State intends to finalize the visa bond program, which could require applicants for U.S. visas to post a bond. The notice, published in the Federal Register on Friday, applies to B-1 and B-2 visas designated for business and tourism travel, according to Reuters.

The notice stated, “Consular officers may require applicants for nonimmigrant visas to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by consular officers.”

It added, “The 2025 Visa Bond Pilot Program provided the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury with a framework to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program and generated sufficient data indicating that this program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”

Under the pilot program, consular officers could request bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or up to $15,000. The new final rule eliminates the $5,000 option and raises the maximum bond amount to $20,000.

The final rule takes effect on August 3, the scheduled date for its publication in the Federal Register. Among the 50 countries whose citizens are covered by this program, 30 are African nations.