Trump Launches Visa Bond Program, Requires Up to $15,000 from Applicants

Beginning later this month, the United States will implement a new visa bond pilot program that will require applicants from select countries to pay a refundable sum of no less than $5,000 as a condition for visa issuance.

According to a notice set to be published in the US Federal Register on Tuesday, consular officers will be authorized to demand bonds of up to $15,000 from certain nonimmigrant visa applicants. The program will apply to B-1 and B-2 visas, which cover business and tourism visits.

The bond will be refunded if the applicant adheres to all visa conditions and departs the country on time. However, failure to comply—such as overstaying the visa—will result in the forfeiture of the entire amount.

The 12-month pilot program, which begins August 20, is aimed at nationals from countries identified by the 2023 Department of Homeland Security report as having high visa overstay rates. It also targets applicants from countries deemed to have “deficient” screening and vetting processes, and those whose nationals were granted citizenship without prior residency requirements.

“The pilot reinforces the Trump Administration’s commitment to enforcing US immigration laws and safeguarding US national security,” a State Department spokesperson told AFP.

While the notice did not specify which countries would be affected, applicants subject to the bond requirement will be required to enter and exit the U.S. through pre-approved airports.

Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to reduce illegal immigration, with the visa bond initiative described by the State Department as “a key pillar of the administration’s foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays.”