U.S. to Make Visa Bond Program Permanent for Citizens of Bangladesh and 49 Other Countries

The details were announced in a Federal Register notice published online on Friday.

 

According to the notice, the new rule applies to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) non-immigrant visas. Consular officers will have the authority to require eligible applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued if they determine it is necessary.

 

The notice states that the 2025 Visa Bond Pilot Program provided the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury with a framework to evaluate the feasibility of administering a visa bond system. The findings from the pilot indicated that requiring bonds can be an effective tool for improving compliance with U.S. immigration laws among non-immigrant visa holders.

 

According to a Reuters report, consular officers under the pilot program could require bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Under the new final rule, the $5,000 option has been eliminated, while the maximum bond amount has been increased to $20,000.

 

The final rule will take effect upon its publication in the Federal Register on August 3.

 

Of the 50 countries covered by the program, 30 are in Africa.

 

U.S. officials say the policy is intended to reduce the number of visitors who overstay their visas. However, immigration advocates argue that the requirement could discourage many legitimate travelers from visiting the United States for business or tourism.