The US State Department announced a significant new measure on Monday, introducing a pilot program that will require certain nonimmigrant visa applicants to pay bonds of up to $15,000. This initiative, set to begin on August 20 and last for 12 months, is a key component of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on migration, specifically designed to discourage visa overstays. The program mandates applicants from countries identified as having high visa overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls to post collateral, which will be returned if they comply with the terms of their stay, but forfeited if they remain past the deadline.

Under the new rules, consular officers will have the authority to require covered B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of no less than $5,000 and potentially up to $15,000. The funds serve as collateral for visa issuance, ensuring adherence to departure timelines. The program, which will be detailed in a Federal Register notice, also stipulates that those asked to pay bonds will be required to enter and depart from the United States via a list of pre-selected airports.

While the initial notice did not explicitly name the affected countries, it indicated that selections would be based on a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report. However, reports have suggested countries such as Malawi and Zambia may be targeted. The State Department justified the program by calling it "a key pillar of the Trump Administration's foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays."

Critics have quickly emerged, denouncing the bond scheme as a "legalised shakedown" that may exploit vulnerable, lawful travelers and potentially render the visa application process unaffordable for many. Despite these criticisms, the new requirement aligns with a broader trend of tightening visa regulations by the Trump administration since its return to the White House in January. Other recent measures include the announcement that many visa renewal applicants will now need to undergo additional in-person interviews, a requirement not previously enforced. Furthermore, the department is proposing that applicants for the Visa Diversity Lottery program must possess valid passports from their country of citizenship.

Historically, visa bonds have been proposed but rarely implemented, with the State Department often discouraging them due to the cumbersome process of posting and discharging bonds, as well as concerns about potential public misperception. However, the department has stated that this previous view "is not supported by any recent examples or evidence, as visa bonds have not generally been required in any recent period." It is noted that the bond requirement could be waived depending on an applicant's specific circumstances, and it will not apply to citizens of countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program, which facilitates business or tourism travel for up to 90 days, primarily encompassing nations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.