WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. State Department is proposing a new visa requirement that could force certain foreign travelers to post a bond of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, a measure officials say is aimed at curbing visa overstays but critics warn could put U.S. travel out of reach for many.
Under a 12-month pilot program outlined in a notice set for publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday, applicants for temporary business or tourist visas from countries with high overstay rates or inadequate document security systems could be required to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.
The proposal is part of a broader tightening of U.S. entry requirements under President Donald Trump’s administration. Just last week, the State Department announced that more visa renewal applicants would now need to undergo an additional in-person interview, reversing past practice. It is also advancing a rule requiring entrants to the Visa Diversity Lottery program to hold valid passports from their country of citizenship at the time of application.
According to a preview posted Monday on the Federal Register’s website, the bond pilot would take effect within 15 days of formal publication. The department said the measure is intended to ensure the U.S. government is not left financially liable if a visitor fails to comply with visa terms.
The notice specifies that the requirement could apply to travelers who are nationals of countries with both high visa overstay rates and deficiencies in screening or vetting systems, or to those who obtained citizenship through investment programs with no residency requirement. The final list of affected countries will be published when the program begins.
While the bond could be waived depending on individual circumstances, the State Department stressed it would not apply to travelers from the 42 nations participating in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visits of up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa. Most Visa Waiver countries are in Europe, with others in Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
Visa bond proposals have surfaced before but were never enacted. Historically, the State Department has discouraged such measures, citing the administrative burden of posting and releasing bonds and concerns about creating negative perceptions abroad. However, in its notice, the department said that previous opposition “is not supported by any recent examples or evidence, as visa bonds have not generally been required in any recent period.”
The move represents a significant policy shift in U.S. travel regulations and could reshape visitor flows from certain countries. The administration has framed the measure as a targeted tool to address compliance issues, while critics are likely to see it as an added barrier to legitimate travel and tourism.
