THE United States State Department will permanently implement a visa bond programme that could require applicants from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, to provide financial guarantees of up to US$20,000 when applying for certain US visas.
A federal notice published online on Friday confirmed that the measure will apply to B1 and B2 visas, which cover business and tourism travel, allowing consular officers to require eligible applicants to post a bond as a condition of visa approval.
“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,” Reuters reported the notice saying on Saturday.
The State Department said the programme was designed to reduce visa overstays and ensure foreign visitors comply with the conditions of their admission to the United States.
The department said a 2025 pilot programme involving the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and Department of the Treasury had generated sufficient data to show that visa bonds were an effective enforcement tool.
“The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program, has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders,” the notice stated.
Under the pilot scheme, consular officers could impose bonds of US$5,000, US$10,000 or up to US$15,000.
The permanent rule removes the lowest US$5,000 option while increasing the maximum bond amount to US$20,000.
The policy will take effect on August 3, when the final rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register.
Of the 50 countries covered by the programme, 30 are located in Africa, according to the government notice.
US officials have defended the measure as a way to prevent visitors from remaining in the country beyond their authorised visa periods.
However, immigration advocates have criticised the policy, arguing that imposing large financial requirements could discourage legitimate travellers, including tourists, business visitors and family members seeking to enter the United States.
The visa bond requirement is the latest move in President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included stricter enforcement measures and new barriers affecting both undocumented migrants and legal immigration applicants.
Rights groups have accused the administration of undermining due process and creating an environment that could increase racial profiling and discrimination against ethnic minorities.
Trump has defended his immigration agenda, saying tougher measures are necessary to strengthen national security and protect US borders.
While the administration has focused heavily on reducing illegal immigration, it has also introduced measures making legal entry more difficult, including higher application fees for some visa categories and expanded social media screening for visa applicants and immigrants already living in the United States. - August 1, 2026
