U.S. to Launch Pilot Program Requiring Up to $15,000 Bond for Some Tourist and Business Visas

Starting August 20, 2025, the United States will implement a 12-month pilot program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for certain B-1 and B-2 tourist and business visa applicants. The initiative, announced by the Department of State on Monday, targets visitors from countries with high visa overstay rates, though specific nations were not named in the notice. The program aims to deter overstays and is expected to generate $20 million over its duration.

The State Department described the program as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to enhance screening and vetting processes for their citizens. Historically, the department has avoided bond requirements due to administrative complexities, but this pilot follows a similar, partially implemented program under the Trump administration in 2020, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. recorded approximately 500,000 suspected visa overstays. The current administration, under President Trump, has prioritized immigration enforcement, allocating significant resources to border security and deportations. The government has justified these measures by citing national security and public safety concerns, despite evidence indicating that immigrants, both documented and undocumented, commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens. A 2024 report to the U.S. House of Representatives, based on Texas arrest records, found undocumented immigrants were arrested at less than half the rate of native-born citizens, while a 2021 Oxford Economics study noted they are 33% less likely to be incarcerated.

The program comes amid heightened immigration debates, with the administration emphasizing stricter border policies while critics point to data challenging claims about immigrant-related crime.

Share This Post

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Print

শেয়ার করুন