Further tightening the visa rules in America, the Trump administration has decided to increase the scope of visa bond rule up to $15,000 applicable to citizens of some countries. According to reports, now a total of 50 countries can be included in this list. The US State Department said that this change will especially apply to B1 (Business) and B2 (Tourist) visas. This bond arrangement was started in 2025, the purpose of which is to prevent the problem of overstay in America even after the visa period is over.
New rules will come into effect from April 2, 2026
The 12 countries included in the new list are – Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. Earlier in 2025, this rule has also been implemented in 37 other countries, which include Cuba, Burundi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
What are visa bond rules
Under this rule, applicants may be asked to deposit a bond of up to $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 at the time of visa interview. This amount will have to be deposited only when the consular officer directs. If the visa holder leaves the US within the deadline, the entire amount will be refunded. In case of overstay this amount can be confiscated.
Why is the strictness being increased?
In the last one year, the Trump administration has made many changes in the immigration system. The government says the visa program was being abused and that the screening of applicants was not strict enough. Under this, the embassy interview process has now been tightened. Social media verification has been increased. Changes have also been made in visa fees and other conditions. These steps are aimed at reducing the incidence of illegal overstays and making the visa system more transparent and controlled.