The U.S. State Department is proposing a new visa bond requirement for individuals from countries with high overstay rates, which could necessitate bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 for business and tourist visa applications. This proposal is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to strengthen visa requirements and ensure the U.S. government is not financially liable for overstaying visitors.
The measure would be introduced as a 12,000,000, which could make the process unaffordable for some, as outlined in a notice posted on the Federal Register’s website and scheduled for publication on Tuesday. The program is intended to target individuals from countries with subpar internal document security and high visa overstay rates, with the bond amount varying depending on the country’s risk level.
Additionally, the administration has proposed other measures to enhance visa oversight, such as requiring an additional in-person interview for visa renewals and making sure applicants for the Visa Diversity Lottery have a valid passport from their country. These actions reflect the administration’s broader strategy to tighten requirements for visa applicants and address concerns over overstays and potential security risks.
While the proposal has been discussed in the past, it has never been implemented due to potential public backlash and concerns over the administrative burden of bonding and discharging the bond. The State Department noted that the bond could be waived based on individual circumstances, though the pilot program will initially affect a select group of applicants. Ultimately, the initiative underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to manage immigration flows and safeguard national interests.