US Approves Plan Requiring Up to $20,000 Bond for B1/B2 Visa Applicants from 50 Countries

US Approves Plan Requiring Visa Applicants from 50 Countries to Pay Bonds of Up to $20,000

August 1

The U.S. State Department has announced the final approval of a plan requiring visa applicants from 50 countries, including most African nations, to pay a visa bond of up to $20,000 when applying for the business and tourism B1/B2 visa to travel to the United States.

According to a Federal Register notice posted online on July 25, consular officers will now have the authority to require visa bonds from applicants covered under the designated rule.

The State Department said that based on data gathered during a 2025 pilot period, requiring such bonds effectively deterred visa overstays.

During the pilot period, bond amounts were set at $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000 respectively, but in the final rule, the $5,000 tier has been eliminated and the maximum bond has been raised to $20,000. The new rule takes effect on August 3, and more than 30 of the 50 affected countries are in Africa.

Government officials have said the policy is intended to reduce visa overstays, but human rights and immigration advocates have criticized it, saying it could hinder legitimate travel.

Human rights activists have alleged that President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies undermine free speech and the rule of law, creating an unsafe environment for minorities, while Trump has defended the measures as necessary to strengthen national security.

Ref & Photo; Reuters

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