The story so far
US Visa Bond Expansion
Tracked across 2 sources · Updated 4h ago
The U.S. State Department is making permanent a visa bond program affecting citizens from about 50 countries, mostly in Africa, requiring up to $20,000 bonds for visa applicants. The decision follows a pilot program and aims to reduce overstay risks.
How it unfolded
7h ago
State Department confirms $20,000 visa bond program
1d ago
US to make visa bond permanent for 50 countries
What happened earlier
Latest updates
Latest
Full story →US to make visa bond program permanent for people from dozens of countries
The U.S. State Department will make permanent a visa bond program requiring applicants from 50 countries, mostly in Africa, to post bonds up to $20,000 for U.S. visas.
This change follows a federal notice posted online on Friday.
The program's expansion may affect visa applicants from dozens of countries.
Earlier · 12h ago
Full story →US to make visa bond requirements permanent, affecting mostly African countries
The US State Department is making permanent a pilot program requiring citizens from 50 countries, mostly in Africa, to post a visa bond for B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
The maximum bond amount is raised from $15,000 to $20,000, and the $5,000 low-end option is removed.
The bond is refunded if the visa is denied or if the applicant complies with visa terms; the program aims to reduce visa overstays.
In the first 10 months of the pilot, overstays from the affected countries dropped to fewer than 50, compared to nearly 45,500 in 2024.
Critics argue the program unfairly burdens applicants from impoverished countries, and nearly half of the 20,000 applicants didn't pay the bond, leading to an 83% decline in visas issued to those countries.