Starting August 20, 2025, the United States will begin enforcing a visa bond pilot program that could require certain travelers to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition for receiving a U.S. visa.
The new policy, announced by the U.S. Department of State and published in the Federal Register, targets B1 and B2 visa applicants, those traveling for business, tourism, or a combination of both, from countries deemed to have high visa overstay rates or insufficient traveler screening data, as assessed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Who Will Be Affected?
While the specific countries subject to the program have not yet been disclosed, the State Department says a country list will be published on its website prior to the program’s commencement. The bond requirement will not apply to:
- Student visa holders
- Other non-immigrant visa categories
- Travelers from the 42 countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, who can visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
Once in effect, only travelers from the listed countries applying for B1 or B2 visas will be subject to the bond payments.
How Will It Work?
According to the notice, consular officers will determine bond amounts during visa interviews. While the minimum bond is set at $5,000, most applicants will likely be asked to post $10,000, based on guidance in the documents. In some cases, consular officers may require $15,000, or waive the bond entirely.
Visa applicants subject to the bond requirement will receive instructions via email to make payment through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.
The pilot is set to last 12 months, during which U.S. authorities will evaluate the feasibility of permanently implementing visa bond requirements.
Refund Policy and Compliance
Travelers who adhere to all visa conditions—including leaving the U.S. before their visa expires and not engaging in unauthorized employment—will have their bonds fully refunded.
However, failure to comply with visa terms will lead to forfeiture of the posted bond.
The State Department emphasized that the program aims to curb visa overstays, which reportedly exceeded 500,000 cases in 2023 alone.
Airport Restrictions and Tech Integration
Another major component of the program is airport selectivity. Travelers who are required to post a bond will only be allowed to enter and exit the U.S. through designated international airports, selected for their ability to electronically verify departures—most likely those with facial recognition technology at immigration checkpoints.
The list of participating airports will be published 15 days before the August 20 rollout and may be updated periodically.
Visa Integrity Fee Also in the Works
Separately, the U.S. is also preparing to launch a new $250 “visa integrity” fee later in 2025. The fee will apply to all non-immigrant visa applicants and, like the bond, may be refunded if the applicant fully complies with their visa conditions.
Background
The idea of requiring visa bonds is not new. It was previously proposed during the Trump administration, but was shelved due to logistical challenges and international backlash. This new pilot marks the first formal implementation of such a policy.
According to the State Department, this program aims to test the viability of using financial incentives to enforce visa compliance and enhance national security measures.
As the August 20 implementation date approaches, affected travelers are advised to monitor the State Department’s website for updates on country lists, eligible visa categories, and designated airports.
