Planning a trip to the United States soon? You may want to double-check the latest US tourist visa rules. After the Visa Integrity Fee that the US had
announced for travellers, the US State Department has announced a new visa bond requirement for certain applicants applying for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas, which may include a refundable bond of up to $15,000. This pilot program, which will try to reduce the number of travellers who overstay their visa, will go into effect from August 20, 2025, and is expected to impact travellers from countries identified as high-risk for visa violations, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
What Is The New US Tourist Visa Bond Rule?
As per the notice set to be published in the Federal Register, U.S. consular officers may now require eligible visa applicants to post a bond between $5,000 and $15,000 before the visa is issued. The amount will be refunded if the traveller leaves the U.S. within the approved visa duration.
If the traveller overstays, however, the entire bond will be forfeited to the U.S. government. This move is being described as a financial deterrent to combat visa misuse and strengthen U.S. immigration laws.
Who Will Be Affected?
This rule targets citizens of countries with historically high visa overstay rates, limited screening and vetting capabilities, or those that allow citizenship by investment without residency. According to DHS data, countries like Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, Yemen, Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo fall under this category. Though India is not currently on the list, Indian travellers are advised to stay updated, as the country list may be revised during the 12-month pilot.
Also Read: US Visa Fee Hike, GCC Visa, Digital Nomad Visas: All The Latest Updates For Indian Travellers
A State Department spokesperson clarified that countries will be selected based on:
- High overstay rates
- Screening and vetting deficiencies
- Concerns over "golden passport" programs
- Foreign policy considerations
How Will The US Visa Bond Work?
- The rule will apply only to B-1 and B-2 visa categories
- Travellers must enter and exit via designated U.S. airports
- The bond amount will vary case-by-case, up to $15,000
- If visa terms are respected, the bond is fully refundable
- Overstaying will result in bond forfeiture
Although Indian passport holders aren’t immediately impacted, frequent travellers, visa applicants, and tour operators should keep an eye on these developments. The Schengen visa for Indians has already undergone recent changes, and now U.S. visa policies may be shifting too.
Also Read: US Tourist Visa Just Got 148% Costlier For Indians: Here’s What You’ll Pay Now!
