US to require tourist visa bond in new pilot program

The United States will soon implement a pilot program allowing consular officers to impose bonds of up to USD 15,000 for tourist visa applicants from selected countries.

Effective 20 August, the program gives consular officials the discretion to post bond requirements for B-1 and B-2 visas if applicants are from countries with high rates of visa overstays or are deemed to have insufficient screening systems.

B-1 and B-2 visas are commonly used for business and tourism.

The U.S. State Department has yet to release a list of countries covered by the pilot program.

Under the program, consular officers may set bond amounts for visa applicants at USD 5,000, USD 10,000, or USD 15,000, with USD 10,000 expected to be the standard bond.

The funds will be returned to travelers if they depart according to the terms of their visas.

A similar initiative was introduced in 2020 but was not fully enforced due to the global decline in travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This initiative is separate from the new USD 250 “visa integrity fee” for all approved non-immigrant visa applicants. The fee is intended to cover the costs of visa enforcement and will take effect on 1 October following approval by the U.S. Congress in July.