Washington – According to a public notice to be published on Tuesday, the State Department is ready to roll out a pilot program, requiring foreign nationals from some countries, demanding a business or tourism visa to post a bond of up to $ 15,000.
Information The 12 -month -old “visa bond pilot program” details that will allow consular officers to require visa bonds. Under the program, bonds may be required for passengers from countries, which the state department says that according to the document, high rates of visa overstates, or where screening and weating information are considered.
The notice does not specify countries covered by the pilot program, but said that the State Department will announce the list at least 15 days before it is effective. According to the agency listing, there will also be an explanation of why bond is required, which will be published in the federal register on Tuesday.
The document states that the program will be effective 15 days after officially published and will run till August 2026.
The program comes in response to an executive order issued by President Trump on the first day of his second term, seeking to stem illegal immigration in the US, a major focus in the President’s policy agenda. remedy Directed the Treasury Secretary along with Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to take action to implement the visa bond program.
As part of his immigration agenda, the President has demanded to return human programs for migrants of some countries, and Signed an announcement In June, the Trump administration has also targeted immigrants on student visas by banning foreign nationals from a dozen countries and has taken steps to tighten the rules for visa applicants.
A new tax and spending bill signed by Mr. Trump last month Many passengers subject $ 250 in America “Visa integrity fee.”
The State Department described the pilot program as a “instrument of diplomacy” and said that it would help inform future decisions about the possible use of visa bonds to address the national security and foreign policy priorities raised in Shri Trump’s executive order.
“The pilot program is further designed to serve as a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take all appropriate action to ensure this for all citizens in matters of identity verification and public safety. [Citizenship by Investment] Programs that provide citizenship without any residence in the country, and encourage their citizens to leave the United States on time after making a temporary visit to encourage countries specified with visa overstees, “according to notice.
Who can attend the Visa Bond Pilot program?
The Foreign Department did not say that countries with high overstay rates will trigger the requirement of visa bonds. But one August 2024 Report It was found from the Homeland Security Department that in the financial year 2023, more than 300,000 foreign nationals were admitted to trade or bliss, who were in the US even after their authorized.
The pilot program will focus on countries that have high visa overstay rates that allow for trade or bliss in the US -B -1 or B -2 visa, according to notice. A B -1 visa For business activities temporarily for those traveling to America. A B -2 visa For foreign nationals who want to temporarily come to America for tourism or bliss.
According to the notice of the state department, passengers entering the US under the Visa relaxation program will not have to post a bond. The program allows residents of over 40 countries to enter the US for less than 90 days without visa.
While countries under the program will be announced in the future, the list can also be revised on the basis of rolling, the State Department said. According to the Report Department of Homeland Security, in the financial year 2023, there were Chad, Laos, Haiti and Congo countries with the highest overstity countries for people with trade and tourism visas.
Only foreign nationals who are applying for B -1 or B -2 non -immigrant visa, and who are from countries identified by the Department of State, may require to post $ 5,000, $ 10,000 or $ 15,000 bonds as a visa. According to the conditions of the detailed program in the notice, the bonds can be canceled, if the person meets certain criteria, including the date of leaving the US, until their authority is finished.
A new requirement for some foreign nationals wishing to enter the US for business or tourism can be negative results for cities that trust passengers from abroad. A June report The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found that Sin City experienced a 11% decline in year-on-year, hosting around 3.5 million visitors in June 2024 and about 3.1 million in June this June.
A spokesman for the American Travel Association said that the pilot program affects around 2,000 applicants, most likely that the US has low travel volume from some countries, but the group is more concerned with $ 250 “visa integrity fee”.
The spokesperson said, “If this fee is implemented, it will be one of the US, if the most, visitor visa fee in the world,” the spokesman said. “If we want to maintain a competitive status in the global travel market, it is important that the US visa policy reflects both national security priorities and important economic values of international meetings.”
Mary Cunningham and Alija Chasan contributed to this report.
