The U.S. will impose bonds of up to $15,000 on certain visa applicants

The U.S. Department of State will launch a 12-month pilot program starting August 20 that will require bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 from certain applicants for tourist or business visas.

According to a report by AP, the measure will be applied to individuals coming from countries with high rates of illegal presence or with internal document control systems deemed inadequate.

The goal, according to the notice that will be published in the Federal Register, is to protect the U.S. government from assuming financial responsibilities if a visitor fails to meet the terms of their visa.

The program will not affect citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows stays of up to 90 days without a formal visa for tourism or business purposes.

Consular authorities may apply bonds at their discretion, although in most cases, it is expected that they will impose at least $10,000, according to a document cited by Reuters, which also specified that the funds will be returned if the visitor leaves the country within the authorized timeframe.

The initiative is part of a new tightening of immigration policies under the mandate of Donald Trump, who has made reducing illegal immigration a priority.

Last week, the Department of State also announced that many visa renewal applicants will be required to attend additional in-person interviews, a requirement that was not previously mandated.

Additionally, applicants for the Diversity Visa Lottery must present valid passports issued by their country of citizenship as part of the new requirements of the process.

Reuters recalled that an earlier version of this program was launched in late 2020, during Trump's first term, but it was never fully implemented due to the collapse of global tourism during the pandemic.

Although the list of countries to which the measure will apply has not yet been released, recent data from the Customs and Border Protection Office indicates that numerous African countries—including Chad, Eritrea, Burundi, and Togo—are among those with the highest overstay rates.

Additionally, a provision included in a spending package approved by the U.S. Congress in July imposes an additional "visa integrity" fee of $250 on applicants approved for non-immigrant visas.

This fee will come into effect on October 1 and may be refundable if the conditions for leaving the country are met.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, cited by Reuters, this policy could make the U.S. one of the countries with the most expensive visas in the world.

This new requirement for bonds adds to other restrictive measures introduced by U.S. immigration authorities in recent weeks.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will make the citizenship test more difficult, incorporating more complex questions and assessments that could hinder the naturalization of many immigrants.

Additionally, the U.S. government reported that the cost of the immigrant visa will double starting in October, which represents a new financial barrier for those seeking to legally establish themselves in the country.

In parallel, the authorities have issued a warning directed at individuals with a valid visa, reminding them that any non-compliance, even minor, with the terms of their immigration status may result in immediate visa cancellation and potential future penalties.

These decisions reflect a clear trend: to strengthen the entry and legal residency filters in the U.S., even for those who already have an approved visa.

Frequently Asked Questions about the New U.S. Visa Policies.