WASHINGTON, D.C., August 5, 2025 – The U.S. State Department has announced the rollout of a pilot program that will require certain visa applicants to pay bonds of up to $15,000, in a move aimed at curbing visa overstays and strengthening immigration compliance.
Beginning August 20, the 12-month initiative will apply to individuals seeking B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas — typically for business or tourism — from countries deemed to have high rates of visa overstays. The program, which forms part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal migration, mandates that affected applicants post a refundable bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 as a condition for visa issuance.
According to a notice from the State Department set to be published in the U.S. Federal Register, consular officers will determine on a case-by-case basis whether an applicant must pay the bond. The amount will be returned in full if the individual departs the U.S. within the permitted timeframe. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the bond.
The countries affected have not been publicly listed, but will be drawn from a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report identifying nations with significant overstay rates. Additionally, individuals approved under this program must enter and exit the United States through designated airports.
Describing the initiative as a “key pillar” of its immigration policy, the State Department said the program is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to “protect the United States from the national security threat posed by visa overstays.”
The move marks another step in the administration’s tightening of U.S. immigration policies since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, continuing a hardline stance that has drawn both domestic and international attention.
