The United States has established a permanent Visa Bond Programme for 50 countries, with a bond amount set at $20,000

The US has made the visa bond program, which requires applicants from 50 countries to post bonds of up to $20,000 before visas are issued, a permanent measure.

The United States will establish a permanent visa bond program that may require applicants from 50 countries, primarily in Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 when seeking US visas.

A federal notice published online on Friday indicated that the policy pertains to B1 and B2 visas issued for business and tourism travel.

“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers,” the notice stated.

The 2025 visa bond pilot established a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a visa bond program. The data gathered indicates that such a program is an effective means of ensuring compliance among bonded visa holders.

Under the pilot program, consular officers had the authority to require bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or as much as $15,000. The new rule eliminates the $5,000 option and increases the maximum bond to $20,000.

The rule will take effect on August 3 upon its publication in the Federal Register. The programme includes 50 countries, with 30 of them located in Africa.

US officials stated that the policy aims to decrease visa overstays. Immigration advocates contended that it might deter genuine travel to the United States.

The UK is set to implement a policy requiring asylum seekers to repay up to £10,000 prior to being granted permanent settlement.

Rights advocates argued that President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown infringes on free speech and due process, fostering an unsafe atmosphere for ethnic minorities and promoting racial profiling. Trump has justified the measures, asserting that they are essential for enhancing national security.

The Trump administration has implemented stricter measures on legal immigration by raising application fees for certain visa categories and enhancing social media scrutiny for visa applicants and immigrants residing in the United States.