The US State Department announced a significant shift in its immigration policy, introducing a pilot program that will require some nonimmigrant visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000. This measure, set to begin on August 20 and last for 12 months, is a key component of the Trump administration's intensified efforts to curb migration and specifically target visa overstays. The program mandates that consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant B-1 or B-2 visa applicants to pay a sum no less than $5,000 and up to $15,000 as collateral for their visa issuance. These funds would be returned if the visa holder complies with the terms of their stay, but forfeited if they remain in the United States past their authorized deadline.

A notice detailing the program was scheduled for publication in the US Federal Register. It specifies that the pilot initiative will impact foreign nationals from countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, based on a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report. While the initial notice did not explicitly name all the countries that would be subject to this requirement, subsequent reports clarified that nations with high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls would be targeted, citing examples such as Malawi and Zambia. Additionally, those required to post bonds will be restricted to entering and departing the United States from a pre-selected list of airports.

This bond scheme is part of a broader tightening of visa requirements by the Trump administration. Earlier, the State Department had already announced that many visa renewal applicants would now be subjected to an additional in-person interview, a departure from previous practices. Furthermore, there's a proposal for applicants to the Visa Diversity Lottery program to possess valid passports from their country of citizenship. Critics have vehemently denounced the bond requirement, labeling it a 'legalised shakedown' that unfairly profits from vulnerable, lawful travelers.

The department clarified that the bond requirement could be waived depending on an applicant's specific circumstances. Notably, citizens of countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program are exempt from this new bond, as this program already facilitates travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days. The majority of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program are located in Europe, with others in Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere. While visa bonds have been proposed in the past, they were never fully implemented. The State Department had traditionally discouraged such requirements due to the cumbersome process of posting and discharging bonds, and concerns about potential public misperception. However, the department's current stance argues 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,' signaling a decisive shift in policy to protect against what it terms 'the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays.'