The US State Department has decided to make its visa bond programme permanent after successfully running it as a pilot scheme, expanding a policy aimed at reducing visa overstays. The programme currently applies to citizens of 50 countries.Under the new rule, consular officers may require certain applicants for US visitor visas to post a bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued. The regulation takes effect on August 3, when it is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register. US officials have indicated that additional countries could be added to the programme in the future, Reuters cites.
India not on list
The visa bond programme currently covers citizens of 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, but India is not among them. This means Indian applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas are not affected by the new rule at present.However, the State Department has indicated that more countries could be added to the programme in the future.
Who will be affected?
The rule applies to applicants seeking B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas from countries covered under the programme.According to the Federal Register notice, “Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.”The State Department said a year-long review of the pilot programme found that visa bonds were effective in encouraging travellers to comply with the terms of their stay in the United States.During the pilot programme launched in 2025, consular officers could require visa applicants to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.Under the permanent rule, the $5,000 option has been removed and the maximum bond amount has been increased to $20,000.Immigration and rights advocates have criticised the policy, arguing that requiring applicants to deposit thousands of dollars could discourage legitimate travel to the United States.The visa bond programme is part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.
