US Contemplating New Visa Policy Under Trump's Regime: Applicants Potentially Required to Post Bonds Worth Rs...
The United States is set to launch a new visa bond pilot program for tourist and business (B-1/B-2) visas on August 20, 2025. This one-year initiative is part of President Donald Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown and is managed by the US Department of State.
The program targets immigrants applying for tourist or business visas from countries with high visa overstay rates. Applicants from Malawi and Zambia will be the initial participants, identified due to high overstay rates.
Under the program, if found eligible, applicants will be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 at the time of their visa interview. The bond amount remains up to USD 15,000.
To participate, applicants must submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and pay the bond through the official US Treasury’s online payment system, Pay.gov, only after being instructed by a consular officer.
The program will run until August 5, 2026, as stated in the temporary final rule published by the Department of State. It is important to note that the US Department of State did not implement the visa bond pilot programme in 2020 due to the worldwide reduction in global travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. No data on the feasibility for full implementation of the visa bond pilot programme was provided in 2020.
The introduction of visa bonds marks the latest development in Trump's harsh immigration crackdown, which began during his second presidential term in January 2021. The programme may affect immigrants from countries with high visa overstay rates.
The visa bond pilot programme is to be implemented nationwide, making it a significant step in US immigration policy. However, countries subject to the visa bonds will be announced no fewer than 15 days before the programme starts.
This news comes as the US Department of State has issued a notice regarding this new visa bond pilot programme. The visa bond idea was floated during Trump's first presidency but could not be implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed programme could involve bonds up to USD 15,000 (more than Rs 13 lakh).
[1] Department of State, Temporary Final Rule, Visa Bond Pilot Program for B-1 and B-2 Visas, Federal Register, 2025. [2] Department of Homeland Security, Form I-352, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, 2025. [3] US Citizenship and Immigration Services, B-1 and B-2 Visas, Overview, 2025.
- Despite the initial plans in Trump's first presidency, the visa bond pilot program for tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2) was not implemented until 2025 due to the worldwide reduction in travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The visa bond pilot program, managed by the US Department of State, aims to target immigrants applying for tourist or business visas from countries with high visa overstay rates, such as Malawi and Zambia.
- The proposed program could involve bonds up to USD 15,000 (more than Rs 13 lakh), which applicants will be required to post at the time of their visa interview if found eligible.
- The visa bond pilot program, a significant step in US immigration policy, will affect immigrants from countries with high visa overstay rates and is expected to be announced nationwide no fewer than 15 days before the program starts.
