US Cracks Down on Visa Overstays with $15,000 Bond Requirement
The US State Department has announced plans to impose bonds as high as $15,000 for certain tourism and business visas, targeting visitors from countries with significant overstay rates. This move is part of a 12-month pilot program aimed at ensuring nonimmigrants comply with the terms and conditions of their visas and depart the United States on time.
Consular officers will have discretion to require bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with a general expectation of requiring at least $10,000.The list of countries will be announced at least 15 days before the pilot program takes effect, and may be updated with 15 days' notice.
Travelers will receive their bonds back when they depart the US, are naturalized as a citizen, or die.The pilot program is set to begin on August 20, 2025, and will run for approximately one year.
This initiative renews a plan introduced during the first Trump administration in November 2020, which was not implemented due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Trump administration had cracked down on immigration, including terminating temporary protected status for certain individuals and banning immigration visas for nationals of specific countries.
The US Travel Association has expressed concerns that the bond requirement and a new $250 visa integrity fee could hinder travel to the US and impact the country's competitiveness in the global travel market.
Source - www.theguardian.com
