The United States will make permanent a visa bond programme that could require applicants from 50 countries, most of them in Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 when applying for US visas.
A federal notice posted online on Friday said the policy applies to B1 and B2 visas issued for business and tourism travel.
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers,” the notice said.
“The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program, has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”
Under the pilot programme, consular officers could require bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or up to $15,000. The new rule removes the $5,000 option and raises the maximum bond to $20,000.
The rule takes effect on August 3 when it is published in the Federal Register. Of the 50 countries covered by the programme, 30 are in Africa.
US officials said the policy is designed to reduce visa overstays. Immigration advocates argued it could discourage legitimate travel to the United States.
Rights advocates said President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown violates free speech and due process while creating an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities and encouraging racial profiling. Trump has defended the measures, saying they are necessary to strengthen national security.
The Trump administration has also tightened legal immigration by introducing higher application fees for some visa categories and expanding social media vetting for visa applicants and immigrants already living in the United States.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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