US Makes Visa Bonds Permanent for 50 Nations, Raises Cap to $20,000
Updated
Updated · The Indian Express · Aug 1
US Makes Visa Bonds Permanent for 50 Nations, Raises Cap to $20,000
3 articles · Updated · The Indian Express · Aug 1
Summary
$20,000 visa bonds will become a permanent requirement on Monday for B1/B2 applicants from 50 countries, replacing the State Department’s pilot program and eliminating the $5,000 option.
A year-long review found the policy curbed overstays: nearly 45,500 visitors from those countries overstayed in 2024, while fewer than 50 covered applicants did so in the pilot’s first 10 months.
About 20,000 applicants were captured by the program—far above the 2,000 initially expected—and nearly half declined to pay, contributing to an 83% drop in tourist and business visa issuance for listed countries.
Officials say the bonds help avoid roughly $18,000 in arrest and deportation costs per overstay, while critics argue the $10,000 and $20,000 requirements unfairly burden travelers from lower-income countries.
Most affected countries are in Africa, though Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are also included, and the Federal Register notice says more nations could be added later.