US plans permanent visa bond rule affecting mostly African countries
FILE-The U.S. Department of State building is shown in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)
A pilot program requiring citizens from 50 countries, primarily in Africa, to post bonds to apply for a U.S. visa will be made permanent by the State Department.
The Associated Press reported that a draft notice published on July 31 in the Federal Register stated that a nearly year-long review "provided sufficient data" to imply that the bond program enforces compliance with visa conditions and would be made permanent.
U.S. visa bond rule
Dig deeper:
On Monday, the draft notice is set for release the same day the program becomes permanent, with more countries potentially added to the State Department visa list.
According to The Associated Press, the pilot program set the maximum bond amount at $15,000, with lower amounts of $5,000 and $10,000 based on a consular officer’s discretion. The final regulation raises the maximum to $20,000 and removes the $5,000 low-end payment.
RELATED: List: These new countries must pay up to $15,000 bonds for visa applications
This program also requires holders of passports from the impacted countries to pay the bond to be interviewed for business and tourist visas to travel to the United States. Meanwhile, the bond is refunded if the visa application is denied or, if granted, if the person follows the visa terms.
The AP noted that the Trump administration launched the program in August 2025 to enforce visa overstays and as part of a larger effort to limit illegal migration.
Government officials project that arresting and deporting visitors who have overstayed their visa costs roughly $18,000 per person.
Furthermore, the State Department first expected roughly 2,000 visa applicants would be required to post the bond. But the federal agency determined that 20,000 applicants were covered by the bond requirement.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and the State Department’s visa list website. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.