The United States is set to permanently require citizens from 50 countries, most of them in Africa, to post visa bonds of up to $20,000 before they can receive business or tourist visas, marking one of the toughest immigration measures introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to a draft rule published in the Federal Register on Friday, the US State Department concluded that a year long pilot programme had produced enough evidence to justify making the policy permanent. The final rule is expected to take effect on Monday, August 3.
Under the new regulation, consular officers will be able to require applicants for B1 and B2 visitor visas to pay refundable bonds of either $10,000 or as much as $20,000. The previous $5,000 option has been removed, while the maximum bond has increased from $15,000.
The bond is refunded if a visa application is denied. If the visa is approved, applicants receive the money back only after complying with all visa conditions, including leaving the United States before their authorised stay expires.
The State Department said the programme was introduced to tackle visa overstays, which officials argue contribute significantly to illegal immigration. Government estimates cited in the notice say it costs roughly $18,000 to locate, arrest and deport each visitor who overstays a visa.
Officials say the pilot produced dramatic results. In 2024, nearly 45,500 travellers from the affected countries overstayed their visas. During the first ten months of the bond programme, that number reportedly fell to fewer than 50, according to the State Department’s review.
The department had initially projected that only around 2,000 applicants would be required to pay the bond. Instead, nearly 20,000 applicants fell under the scheme. Almost half declined to pay, contributing to an 83 percent drop in the number of business and tourist visas issued to citizens from the affected countries.
Officials said the decline demonstrated that the programme had reduced demand for visas among applicants considered to pose a higher risk of overstaying.
The State Department also said more countries could be added to the programme in the future if they meet the criteria, which include high visa overstay rates, inadequate identity screening systems or concerns over document security.
The visa bond policy was first launched in 2025 as a temporary pilot and formed part of a broader tightening of US immigration rules. The Trump administration has also introduced higher visa related fees, expanded social media screening for some applicants and strengthened vetting procedures as part of its wider immigration agenda.
Immigration advocates and civil rights organisations have criticised the programme, arguing that it unfairly targets poorer nations, particularly in Africa. They say requiring applicants to deposit up to $20,000 creates a financial barrier for legitimate travellers seeking to visit relatives, attend business meetings or pursue educational opportunities in the United States. Some critics have also warned that the policy risks disproportionately affecting African travellers and could discourage lawful travel.
Despite the criticism, the State Department said the final rule is expected to continue reducing applications for visitor visas from countries covered by the programme while ensuring greater compliance with US immigration laws.
