US State Department makes visa bond program permanent

The U.S. State Department is making permanent a visa bond program that requires applicants from 50 countries, predominantly in Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 to apply for business and tourist visas. The final rule, which takes effect on August 3, 2026, raises the maximum bond from the pilot program's $15,000 and eliminates a lower $5,000 option, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.

The program applies to B1 and B2 visa applicants from the listed nations. Consular officers have the discretion to require a bond as a condition of visa issuance, with the amount refundable if the application is denied or if the traveler adheres to all visa terms. Officials say the policy is designed to reduce visa overstays, a stated priority of the Trump administration, which launched the pilot program in August 2025.

Data from the pilot program was cited as justification for making the measure permanent. A federal notice stated that in 2024, before the pilot, nearly 45,500 visitors from the 50 affected countries overstayed their visas. During the first ten months of the bond program, that number fell to fewer than 50 overstays. The government estimates that arresting and...