The U.S. may require bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas, according to a recent notice from the State Department. This pilot program targets visitors who overstay their visas.
According to the Federal Register notice, U.S. consular officers have been granted the authority to require bonds from visitors from countries with high rates of visa overstay. These bonds might also extend to travelers from nations where background screening information is deemed insufficient.
On the plus side, rule-following travelers will get their money back if they depart on time, as the notice explained.
From day one, President Trump has zeroed in on illegal immigration, pouring resources into border security and ramping up arrests of undocumented individuals. This June, he went further, implementing a travel ban that blocks citizens from 19 countries, either fully or partially, under the banner of national security. Meanwhile, 36 more countries were in the administration’s crosshairs.
The impact? Many potential visitors are simply choosing to go elsewhere. Transatlantic ticket prices have tumbled to pre-COVID levels, while travel from U.S. northern and southern neighbors has plummeted by a striking 20 percent compared to last year.
New ‘Visa Integrity Fee’
The bond isn’t exactly a new idea; a similar pilot program kicked off in late 2020 during Trump’s final months, but pandemic travel disruptions prevented its full rollout. When asked which countries would be affected, a State Department spokesperson detailed the selection criteria while emphasizing that the country list remains flexible.
“Countries will be identified based on high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations,” the spokesperson noted.
The U.S. Travel Association (USTA) estimates the visa bond pilot affects roughly 2,000 applicants, mostly from countries with low U.S. travel volume.
However, Congress just passed a $250 “visa integrity fee” effective Oct. 1 for approved non-immigrant visas, potentially reimbursable for those following visa rules. The USTA warns that this fee could discourage visitors and make U.S. visa costs among the highest globally.
Meanwhile, a recent study from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) that analyzed the economic impact of tourism in 184 countries revealed the U.S. was the only country forecast to see international visitor spending decline in 2025—in part due to several Trump administration initiatives that make it more difficult or expensive for foreign travelers to enter the U.S.
