U.S. Makes Visa Bonds of Up to $20,000 Permanent for 50 Countries

A refundable payment becomes a lasting barrier

The State Department is turning a nearly year-long pilot into a permanent requirement for some B-1 business and B-2 tourist visa applicants carrying passports from 50 countries, most of them in Africa.pbs +1 Starting August 3, consular officers may require refundable bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, replacing the pilot’s range of $5,000 to $15,000.newsweek +1 Officers are generally expected to choose $15,000, with discretion to move higher or lower after reviewing an applicant’s circumstances.newsweek

The payment is not an additional visa fee. It is returned if an application is denied or if an approved traveler follows the visa conditions and leaves on time; it may also be refunded when a visa holder does not travel before the visa expires or is denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.pbs +1

Compliance improved as visa issuance collapsed

The administration says the pilot produced a sharp improvement in compliance. The 50 covered countries recorded 45,488 overstays in fiscal 2024, while fewer than 50 were recorded during the pilot’s first 10 months, according to figures in the State Department notice.pbs +1 The move finalizes a program the administration describes as an enforcement tool against overstays.fragomen +1

Those results came with a steep drop in access. The department had initially expected about 2,000 applicants to face a bond, but roughly 20,000 were covered; nearly half declined to pay, and B-1/B-2 visa issuance to nationals of listed countries fell 83%.pbs That decline complicates the government’s success claim: fewer overstays partly reflect fewer visas and fewer journeys, not only better behavior among travelers.

The burden falls heavily on African travelers

The list includes Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, alongside countries in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific.newsweek Eligibility follows the passport used rather than the place where the application is submitted, and the State Department can revise the list on a rolling basis.newsweek Applicants begin with the normal consular process; if otherwise eligible, they are directed to post the bond online before a final visa decision.fragomen

Critics argue that tying temporary travel to a five-figure deposit puts family visits, education and business opportunities beyond the reach of many people in lower-income countries.pbs There is no applicant-requested waiver process, although the department may grant one when it finds a significant national or humanitarian interest.fragomen The permanent rule therefore trades broader mobility for a financial guarantee—one that can be fully refunded, but only if a traveler can afford to provide it first.