The U.S. State Department is planning to introduce bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourism and business visas, as revealed in a draft of a new temporary final rule. This initiative is part of a pilot program slated to last for 12 months and aims to address the issue of visa overstays from countries with high rates of noncompliance.
The proposal has its roots in a policy from the Trump administration, specifically a November 2020 rule that sought to enforce a similar bond requirement for travelers from over two dozen countries—primarily in Africa—where overstay rates exceed 10%. The aim of these bonds is to ensure that nonimmigrants adhere to the conditions of their visas and leave the U.S. in a timely manner.
According to the federal registry notice announcing the pilot program, details regarding the specific countries subject to these bonds will be made available at least 15 days before the program begins. The bonds would be refundable upon the traveler’s departure from the U.S., naturalization as a citizen, or in the event of their death.
This proposed measure follows several previous efforts by the government to tighten immigration controls, including a recent directive to U.S. diplomats to scrutinize the social media activities of foreign students seeking educational and exchange visas. If students are reluctant to share access to their social media profiles, they may face suspicions of concealing relevant information from U.S. authorities.
The implementation of this pilot program represents a continued commitment by the U.S. government to manage visa compliance and improve monitoring of foreign travelers, while balancing the need for welcoming international visitors and business partnerships.