US Visa Bond Program Goes Permanent with $20,000 Refundable Guarantee
The US State Department has announced that it will make its visa bond pilot program permanent, effective August 3. The program aims to reduce the number of people who overstay their visas by requiring certain applicants from selected countries to pay a refundable financial guarantee.
The bond can be as high as $20,000 and is decided on a case-by-case basis by consular officers. The policy applies to nationals from 50 countries, including 30 in Africa. Not every applicant will automatically be required to pay the bond, but US officials will assess individual cases and decide whether a bond is necessary.
The main goal of the program is to reduce visa overstays, where visitors enter the country legally but remain after their visa expires. The State Department says that a pilot version of the scheme tested in 2025 showed that financial guarantees helped improve compliance among travellers.