Planning a trip to the United States soon? If you’re coming on a tourist visa, there’s something important to know beforehand.
The U.S. has launched a new 12-month pilot program that allows consular officers to ask travelers from certain countries to pay a visa bond, up to $15,000, before granting them a B1/B2 visa (the one for tourism or business trips). The reason? Too many visitors aren’t leaving when they’re supposed to.
This only applies to people from specific nationalities, countries with high rates of visa overstays. So far, the U.S. hasn’t said which countries are on the list. But if yours is, and you’re applying for a B1/B2 visa, there’s a chance you could be asked to leave a bond as a kind of financial promise you’ll follow the rules.
If you do, great. You get your money back. If you don’t, that’s a big chunk of change gone.
This is all part of a push by the Department of Homeland Security of the U.S. to tighten its immigration policy and cut down on inadmissibility. In 2023 alone, more than 500,000 people stayed past the date on their visas. That’s a big number. And this new approach is the U.S. government’s way of trying to fix it.
Where this policy started
Although this is being introduced now, it’s not new. The policy was first proposed under Donald Trump as part of a wider immigration reform plan, what he once called his “big, beautiful bill.”
That plan included a lot of changes: new fees, stricter rules, and more hurdles for travelers and migrants alike. The visa bond was one of them.
Supporters say the bond is fair; follow the rules, and you won’t lose a cent. Critics say it’s just another financial roadblock, especially for people from lower-income countries.
What it could mean for you
The U.S. gives out millions of visas each year. In 2024, nearly 11 million people got temporary visas, including lots of tourists. But not everyone leaves when they’re supposed to. That’s where the new bond rule comes in.
If you come from a country with a high overstay rate, you will be flagged as “high risk.” Therefore, the U.S. embassy or consulate may ask you to pay a bond, which depending on the case, could be $5,000, $10,000, or up to $15,000.
It’s not a fee. You get it back if you leave on time. But you do have to pay it up front, which makes visiting the U.S. a lot less accessible for some.
On top of that, other costs are going up too. There’s now a $250 “visa integrity fee” for most foreign visitors. Asking for asylum? You now have to pay a $100 application fee and $100 more each year if your case is still pending.
Real-life consequences
Here’s what this might look like for you:
Let’s say you’re from a country included in the pilot program. You apply for a B1/B2 visa. At your visa appointment, the consular officer says you need to pay a bond before the visa can be approved.
If that happens, you’ll need to pay and wait. When your trip is over and you leave the country within the approved time, you get your money back. But if you overstay or break the visa conditions, that bond is gone.
Only about 2,000 people are expected to be affected during this test year. But if it works (from the government’s perspective), it could be expanded. That’s why it matters now.
This policy is clearly about controlling migration and cutting down on overstay issues. But for everyday people, families visiting relatives, students attending a conference, or tourists going on a dream trip, it could be a real barrier.