• The US State Department will implement a pilot program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas.
• This new requirement will affect travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates, starting from August 20, 2025.
• Currently, travelers from Zambia and Malawi are the first identified to be impacted by this bond requirement.
• The initiative is part of broader immigration policies under the Trump administration aimed at curbing visa overstays.
• Travelers will have their bond money refunded if they comply with visa regulations and depart on time.

The United States is set to launch a pilot program requiring some tourists and business visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000 starting August 20, 2025. This decision aims to deter visa overstays from countries identified as having high rates of such violations, particularly targeting nationals from Zambia and Malawi as the first affected nations. According to a Federal Register notice, consular officers will have the discretion to impose bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, which will be refundable upon compliance with the terms of the visa, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

This measure is part of a broader trend under President Trump’s administration, which has been focused on addressing illegal immigration through tighter border enforcement tactics and visa regulations, including a travel ban affecting citizens from various countries perceived as high-risk due to overstay rates. The State Department's decision reflects a stringent approach towards immigration that has influenced travel patterns, causing declines in tourist arrivals from impacted regions, reports CBS News and Channel News Asia.