New US visa rule: $15K bond for applicants

The United States has announced a major expansion of its visa bond program, requiring certain applicants from 50 countries to post a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for entry. The policy, introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration, will take effect on April 2.

12 New Countries Added

The U.S. State Department confirmed that 12 additional countries have been included in the program, bringing the total from 38 to 50. The newly added nations are: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.

Most countries on the list are located in Africa, with others from Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean.

Who Will Be Affected?

The expanded program applies to travelers seeking B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas. Consular officers will have the authority to require applicants to pay a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the perceived risk that the applicant might overstay their visa.

هدف: Reduce Visa Overstays

According to the State Department, the primary goal of the program is to reduce the number of individuals who remain in the U.S. beyond their authorized stay. Officials report that the bond system has already helped improve compliance rates among travelers from countries included in earlier phases of the program.

How the Bond System Works

• The bond is refundable if the visa holder complies with all terms and leaves the U.S. on time
• If the applicant does not travel, the bond is also returned
• Violations, such as overstaying, may result in forfeiture of the bond

Part of Broader Immigration Measures

The visa bond expansion is part of a broader set of immigration policies introduced since Trump took office. These measures include stricter visa screening, increased deportations, revocation of visas and green cards, and travel restrictions affecting multiple countries.

In June last year, the administration also imposed a travel ban that fully or partially restricted entry for citizens of 19 countries, citing national security concerns.

Full List Expands to 50 Countries

The updated list now includes countries from Africa, Asia, and other regions such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, and Tunisia, among others