Certain Visa Applicants May Face $15,000 Entry Bond Under US Pilot Program

The US State Department is preparing to introduce a new pilot scheme that could require foreign nationals seeking business or tourist visas to pay a bond of up to $15,000, according to a notice previewed on the Federal Register website.

The ‘visa bond pilot program’, set to run for 12 months, would allow consular officers to impose bond requirements of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 for certain applicants, the notice stated.

The policy will take effect 15 days after its official publication, scheduled for Tuesday.

The bond requirement may apply to visitors from countries identified as having high rates of visa overstays or insufficient screening and vetting systems.

While the notice did not name the specific countries, it confirmed the list will be published online at least 15 days before the programme begins.

This move is part of a broader trend by the Trump administration to reinforce visa policies.

Just last week, the State Department revealed that many applicants seeking visa renewals would now need to attend an additional in-person interview, a step not previously required.

Tighter Vetting for Student Visa Applicants

In another measure, the department has instructed its diplomatic posts to increase scrutiny of social media and online activity for all foreign student visa applicants.

According to a departmental cable cited by US media, missions will review applicants’ online profiles for signs of hostility toward US citizens, values, institutions, or government.

This additional vetting will apply to both new and returning students.

“Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” the State Department said.

Applicants who decline to make their social media accounts publicly visible could be denied a visa under the new policy.

Meanwhile, the department has authorised its missions to resume processing student visa applications, a service that had been on hold since 27 May.

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