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The State Department announced on Monday it will start a new pilot program in August that will require some foreign travellers to pay up to $15,000 for a bond so that they won’t overstay their visas. Here’s what to know.
On Monday, the Federal Register listed the program details, and while many remain unclear, in short, it said the State Department would begin a 12-month-long visa bond pilot program, which could apply to foreign citizens applying for temporary B-1 or B-2 visas to visit the U.S. for business or pleasure.
It applies to “nationals of countries identified . . . as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement.” In that case, consular officers may be required to post a bond of up to $15,000 (R268,135).
The bond is “reimbursable” and meant to deter people from staying for longer than they’re allowed. Those travellers who stay in the U.S. after their visa expires will forfeit their bond; those who leave before it expires will get their money back, according to The New York Times.
The pilot program starts in about two weeks on August 20, according to a statement from the State Department sent to The Washington Post. It will expire on August 5, 2026, but it is unclear if that date will be extended.
On Tuesday, a notice from the State Department said travellers from Malawi and Zambia would be required to post the bonds, The Washington Post reported. It also indicated that additional countries could be added.
For further information, contact the Visa Services Office at the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State, by phone at 202-485-7586 or via email at VisaRegs@state.gov.