Washington, D.C. — Starting on August 20, 2025, the U.S. State Department plans to launch a 12-month pilot program that may require certain business and tourist visa applicants to post a refundable bond — typically $10,000, but possibly $5,000 or $15,000 depending on the situation.
What’s the Bond About?
The bond is basically a guarantee: if visitors follow the visa rules and leave the U.S. on time, they’ll get their money back. But if they overstay, they lose the bond.
Who Might Be Affected?
Only travelers applying for B‑1 (business) or B‑2 (tourism) visas from countries that:
- Have high visa overstay rates
- Lack strong security or vetting systems
- Offer citizenship by investment without requiring residency
Most of the affected countries are in Africa, such as Chad, Eritrea, Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, along with others like Haiti and Myanmar.
The U.S. government will release the official list of affected countries — and why they were chosen — at least 15 days before the program starts.
How It Works
- You apply for a B‑1 or B‑2 visa as usual.
- During your consular interview, if your case qualifies, you may be asked to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 — most likely around $10,000.
- You’ll have 30 days to pay the bond through an online Treasury system.
- If approved, your visa will allow single entry within three months and a 30-day stay once you arrive in the U.S.
What Happens at the End?
If you follow the rules and leave on time (or extend your stay properly), you’ll get your full bond back — no interest.
If you overstay or break visa rules, you lose the bond. The decision will be reviewed, and there may be an option to appeal.
Why the Bond Program?
Visa overstays are a big part of illegal immigration. It’s estimated that up to 40% of undocumented migrants in the U.S. came legally but overstayed. A recent report put the overstay rate at about 1.45% in 2023.
This pilot program is designed to reduce overstays, encourage people to follow the rules, and urge foreign governments to improve security checks. It’s also a revival of a similar plan introduced back in 2020, which wasn’t fully rolled out at the time.
In a Nutshell
- Launch date: August 20, 2025
- Duration: One year
- Applies to: B‑1/B‑2 visa applicants from selected countries
- Bond amounts: $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000
- Refund: Full if traveler complies; lost if not
- Country list: Will be announced at least 15 days before the program starts
This new bond requirement could reshape how some travelers plan their visits to the U.S. Whether it proves effective or controversial remains to be seen.