US Plans $15,000 Visa Bond for Travelers From 12 More Countries

The US plans a $15,000 visa enslaved for travelers from 12 much countries to trim overstays and fortify migration enforcement. credit: Corey Seeman / Flickr CC BY-NC-SA2.0

The medication of Donald Trump is expanding a visa enslaved programme that volition necessitate definite travelers to supply a $15,000 enslaved erstwhile applying for introduction to the United States, according to a State Department official. The update adds 12 much countries to the policy, bringing the full to 50.

The request applies to applicants seeking B1 and B2 visas, which are utilized for concern and tourism travel. Officials said the expanded programme volition instrumentality effect connected April 2.

Bond request aims to guarantee compliance

Under the policy, applicants indispensable wage the enslaved earlier a visa is issued. Authorities said the outgo acts arsenic a fiscal warrant that travelers volition travel visa conditions and permission the state wrong the permitted time.

Officials said the enslaved volition beryllium refunded to those who comply with the rules. This includes travelers who depart connected clip oregon those who determine not to question aft receiving a visa.

The State Department is keeping America's borders unafraid and preventing visa overstays.

Nationals from 50 countries volition soon beryllium required to supply a $15,000 enslaved for concern and tourer visas – returned to those who comply with their visa presumption and instrumentality location connected time. pic.twitter.com/SewS69b0Pb

— Department of State (@StateDept) March 18, 2026

The measurement is designed to trim visa overstays. Overstaying occurs erstwhile visitors stay successful the United States beyond the play allowed by their visa.

Twelve caller countries added to the list

The programme antecedently covered 38 countries, astir of them successful Africa. The latest enlargement adds Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.

Officials said the countries were selected based connected higher rates of visa overstays. A State Department authoritative said the enslaved strategy has already helped little specified cases nether the earlier mentation of the program.

Part of a broader migration enforcement strategy

The visa enslaved program forms portion of a wider effort to tighten migration controls. Since returning to the office, Trump, a Republican, has adopted a stricter attack to introduction and enforcement.

It costs the American payer implicit $18,000 connected mean to region an amerciable alien from the United States.

Our expanded visa enslaved programme volition prevention U.S. taxpayers up to $800 MILLION per twelvemonth portion drastically reducing the fig of amerciable visa overstays. pic.twitter.com/ck8EPFaZd1

— Department of State (@StateDept) March 18, 2026

His medication has accrued deportations, revoked visas and greenish cards successful immoderate cases, and expanded screening of applicants. This includes reviewing societal media enactment and past nationalist statements.

In June past year, Trump besides introduced a question prohibition that afloat oregon partially restricted introduction from 19 countries connected nationalist information grounds.

Criticism and enactment disagreement opinion

Human rights groups person criticized the argumentation and akin measures introduced nether the administration. They reason that the rules make fiscal barriers and whitethorn weaken owed process protections and escaped code for overseas nationals.

Trump and his allies person defended the approach. They accidental the argumentation strengthens nationalist information and improves compliance with migration rules.

Officials expect the expanded visa enslaved programme to instrumentality effect connected April 2, adding different furniture to U.S. immigration enforcement and oversight.