Travel agencies believe the added US$15,000 visa bond "won't be a major issue" for Vietnamese travelers to the US, who typically have strong finances.

An estimated 2,000 people, mostly from African and Latin American countries, may have to pay a bond of up to $15,000 when applying for a US visa.

The US will pilot a program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas, targeting countries with high overstay rates.

A visa expert highlights the US as the most difficult visa for Vietnamese travelers to obtain, as even minor errors can lead to rejection.

Several US embassies are warning travelers who appear to be visiting the US for birth tourism, seeking citizenship for their children, that their visa applications will be rejected.

From September 2, Vietnamese travelers seeking US visa renewals will need in-person interviews.

Visitors to the US will soon have to pay a "visa bond fee" of at least $250 under a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill recently enacted by the Trump administration.