US Raises Visa Deposit to $20,000 for Countries with High Overstay Rates

The United States has made its visa security deposit program permanent, increasing the maximum required deposit for certain visa applicants from $15,000 to $20,000. This change affects applicants seeking B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak document security systems.

Among the affected countries are Ethiopia, Djibouti, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Tanzania. The program covers 50 countries in total, including 30 in Africa. Applicants who comply with the terms of their visa can receive their deposit back, but those who overstay may forfeit the funds.

The revised policy follows a one-year pilot program launched in August 2025, which allowed consular officers to require deposits ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The updated program removes the previous minimum deposit of $5,000 and raises the maximum to $20,000.