Trump Administration Proposes Visa Bond Pilot Program for High-Risk Countries

The U.S. Department of State has announced a proposed 12-month pilot program that could require visitors from certain countries to post visa bonds of up to US$15,000 as a condition for entering the United States. The move is part of broader efforts by the Trump Administration to tighten immigration and visa enforcement policies.

Under the proposal, travellers visiting the United States for business or leisure from countries deemed to have high visa overstay rates and insufficient document security controls may be subject to this bond requirement. The program aims to reduce visa overstays and ensure the U.S. government is not financially liable when individuals violate the terms of their visas.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the bond will be refundable upon verified departure from the United States, naturalization as a U.S. citizen, or in the event of the applicant’s death.

Countries affected by the bond requirement will be announced once the program officially takes effect. Notably, the policy will not apply to nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows for business or tourism travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. VWP countries include most European nations, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

This initiative builds on President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, including the June 2020 travel ban, which primarily targets countries in the Middle East and Africa, and Myanmar. Additionally, the State Department recently introduced new requirements mandating in-person interviews for certain visa renewal applicants, eliminating previous exemptions.

Further details and implementation timelines will be provided by the State Department in the coming weeks.