Travelers visiting the USA now face a new requirement: they must provide a financial guarantee, or bond, prior to entry. - New entry regulations in the US enforce travelers to cover bail costs
The United States government has announced a new visa bond pilot program, set to commence on August 20, 2023. This initiative aims to address visa overstays and enhance travel security by requiring tourists and business travelers from certain countries to pay a bail of up to $15,000 for entry.
The specific target group for this measure includes countries with historically high visa overstay rates. Examples of such countries include nations in Africa, Haiti, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Laos, Myanmar, Yemen, Chad, and Eritrea. The list prioritizes countries with overstay rates of 10% or higher and other risk factors. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, which includes over 40 countries including Mexico and Canada, are exempt from this requirement.
The program applies only to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visa applicants. U.S. consular officers will decide the bond amounts on a case-by-case basis during the visa interview. The amount can range from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on individual circumstances. The bond is refundable if the traveler adheres to the visa terms and departs on time. Non-compliance (overstay) results in forfeiture of the entire bond.
This new measure is part of a broader strategy to address illegal immigration and is a revival of an idea from the Trump administration aimed at reducing visa overstays and enhancing travel security. The confiscated bail money could potentially offset costs related to deportation procedures.
The pilot program will last for nearly one year, as announced by the U.S. State Department. The initiative marks a significant tightening of U.S. immigration policy under the current administration, with the aim of ensuring that visitors comply with the conditions of their visas and leave the USA on time.
[1] U.S. Department of State. (2023). New Visa Bond Pilot Program Announced. Retrieved from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-for-august-20-2023.html
[2] White House. (2023). President Biden Announces New Measures to Address Illegal Immigration. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/01/president-biden-announces-new-measures-to-address-illegal-immigration/
[3] U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2023). New Visa Bond Pilot Program Explained. Retrieved from https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/new-visa-bond-pilot-program-explained
[4] U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2023). Report on Visa Overstays and Proposed Solutions. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/VisaOverstaysReport2023.pdf
[5] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2023). Frequently Asked Questions about the New Visa Bond Pilot Program. Retrieved from https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/frequently-asked-questions-about-new-visa-bond-pilot-program
- The new visa bond pilot program is intended to contribute to the US government's broader strategy for addressing illegal immigration, particularly focusing on countries with high visa overstay rates, and potentially influencing the lifestyle and travel plans of those affected.
- Under the updated employment policy, visitors from specific countries will need to consider the possibility of paying a visa bond of up to $15,000 for entry, as a part of the revitalized efforts to reduce visa overstays and improve travel security.
