The United States is set to launch a 12-month pilot program that may require certain inbound travelers to pay bonds of up to $15,000.
In an unpublished temporary final rule posted in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the initiative targets visitors from countries with historically high rates of visa overstays, according to CNBC.
The program targets leisure and business travelers applying for B-1 or B-2 visas to the U.S. It applies to individuals from countries that:
show high rates of visa overstays; lack adequate screening and vetting procedures; or grant Citizenship by Investment without requiring physical residency.
The U.S. Department of State is expected to release the list of affected countries as early as today.
Overstay rates will be determined using data from the Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, published on August 5, 2024.
According to the report, countries with the highest overstay percentages include Chad (50%), Laos (35%), and Haiti (31%).
However, the highest numbers of total overstays come from countries like Mexico (about 49,000), Colombia (41,000), Haiti (27,000), Venezuela (22,000), Brazil (21,000), and the Dominican Republic (20,000).
The Department of State estimates that around 2,000 individuals will post visa bonds during the pilot program, citing both the number of eligible visa applicants and uncertainty over how many can afford the payment.
There are three bond levels: $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000.
Consular officers will determine the bond amount at their discretion, following set guidelines. Decisions will be based on each traveler’s personal circumstances, including their purpose of travel, employment status, income, skills, and education.
Travelers required to pay a visa bond must enter and exit the U.S. through designated ports of entry, which will be announced later.
According to the U.S. State Department, the 12-month pilot program serves two main purposes:
To assess the feasibility of processing and refunding visa bonds, which the government has previously considered “cumbersome,” and
To evaluate whether the bond requirement encourages visitors to comply with the terms of their visas.
