US makes the visa bond program permanent, requiring up to $20,000 from 50 Countries, mostly in Africa

The U.S. State Department is making its visa bond program permanent starting August 3, 2026, requiring B1 and B2 visa applicants from 50 countries—mostly in Africa—to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000. While officials cite a dramatic drop in visa overstays from nearly 45,500 in 2024 to under 50 during the pilot, critics argue the policy severely deters legitimate travel. The program has already led to an 83% decline in visas issued to affected nations, compounding broader economic harms to U.S. tourism and education.

Visa bond program permanence

• ▪The United States State Department is making permanent a visa bond program requiring B1 and B2 visa applicants from 50 countries to post bonds of up to $20,000.
• ▪During the first 10 months of the pilot program, visa overstays from the 50 designated countries fell to fewer than 50, compared to nearly 45,500 overstays in 2024.
• ▪The permanent visa bond rule scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026, eliminates the $5,000 pilot option and sets bond amounts at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000.
• ▪Approximately 20,000 applicants were covered by the pilot bond requirement, and nearly half chose not to pay, causing an 83% decline in visas issued to those nations.
• ▪Of the 50 countries subject to the visa bond program, 30 are in Africa, and South Asian nations Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan are included, while India is excluded.
• ▪The visa bond is refunded if the application is denied or if the traveler complies with visa terms and departs the United States before their stay expires.

Tourism industry decline

• ▪During the World Cup in the summer of 2026, the Trump administration suspended visa bonds for ticket holders, but travel bans and visa restrictions still prevented some fans from attending.
• ▪Trump administration immigration policies have cost the United States billions of dollars in tourism revenue and contributed to a decline in foreign tourism.

U.S. visa policy impacts on students and legal immigration

• ▪United States visa policies have reduced international student enrollment, resulting in a significant drop in revenue for universities and colleges.
• ▪The Trump administration has restricted legal immigration by imposing new fees for certain visas and enforcing social media vetting for applicants and immigrants.