The US government will launch a 12-month pilot program requiring some international visitors to pay a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the country.

According to a temporary notice published in the Federal Register on 5/8/2025, the program targets citizens from countries with high visa overstay rates, insufficient security vetting information, or citizenship-by-investment programs that don't require residency.

This is the latest move in a series of immigration restrictions under the Trump administration, following the entry ban on citizens from 12 countries in June and the $250 visa security fee announced in July.

US travel visa. Photo: Istock

US travel visa. Photo: Istock

The pilot program will run from 20/8/2025 to 5/8/2026.

The US Department of State estimates that about 2,000 people will be subject to the bond requirement during the pilot period, as the number of visa-eligible individuals and their ability to pay remains unclear.

The program applies to citizens entering the US for tourism or business (B-1 and B-2 visas) from countries that: have high visa overstay rates; do not meet security vetting standards; or grant citizenship through investment without requiring actual residency.

Currently, only Malawi and Zambia are on the list. However, it may change during the pilot period, based on the 2023 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report on visa overstays. According to the report, in 2023, 1,655 Malawians were expected to leave the US, but 237 were suspected of overstaying, a rate of over 14%. Out of nearly 3,500 Zambians, 388 were suspected of overstaying, a rate of nearly 11%.

Other countries have higher suspected overstay rates, such as Chad (49%), Laos (34%), Haiti (31%), Republic of Congo (29%), Sudan (26%), and Myanmar (26%). However, the number of overstays from these countries is typically only a few hundred.

Countries like Mexico (49,000 people), Colombia (41,000), Haiti (27,000), Venezuela (22,000), Dominican Republic (20,000), and Brazil (21,000) have larger numbers of overstays, though the percentages are lower.

The bond amounts are $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000. Consular officers will determine the specific amount based on individual circumstances, such as the purpose of entry, occupation, income, and education level.

Those who pay the bond will only be allowed to enter and exit the US through three airports: Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy (New York), and Dulles (Washington D.C.).

According to the State Department, the pilot program aims to assess the feasibility of processing and refunding the bonds, which is considered complex. It also tests whether this measure reduces visa violations.

The US government also sees this as a diplomatic tool to encourage countries to improve their citizen vetting and control processes before departure.

Unlike the $250 visa security fee, which was criticized for lack of information, this bond program offers more details on its duration, procedures, and refunds.

According to the Congressional Research Service, only about 1-2% of non-immigrant visitors to the US overstayed their visas annually between 2016 and 2022. About 42% of the estimated 11 million unauthorized residents in the US are believed to have entered on valid visas but remained after they expired. In 2019, DHS estimated over 320,000 visa overstays, including those who later departed.

Mai Phuong (CNBC)