The US has made its visa bond program permanent, requiring up to $20,000 from citizens of 50 countries.
Washington: (RightNow) The United States has decided to permanently enforce the visa bond program, tightening immigration laws. Citizens from certain countries may need to deposit a bond of up to $20,000 to obtain a US visa.
The new policy applies to B1 and B2 visas for business and tourism purposes. US authorities are authorized to request a bond from applicants as a condition for issuing visas.
According to the US Department of State, results from the pilot program initiated in 2025 indicate that the visa bond system effectively ensures compliance with visa regulations.
In the initial pilot program, bond amounts were $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. However, under the new law, the $5,000 option is removed, and the maximum bond amount is increased to $20,000.
It is noteworthy that the new law will be effective after publication in the Federal Register on August 3. Of the 50 countries affected, approximately 30 are from Africa.
