Visa applicants from foreign countries may be required to pay up to fifteen thousand dollars for approval
The U.S. State Department has announced a new visa bond pilot program, set to take effect on August 20, 2025. The initiative targets citizens of Malawi and Zambia applying for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas, due to high visa overstay rates reported for these countries in the FY 2023 Overstay Report.
Under this program, applicants may be required to post a visa bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The bond amount is set by consular officers during the visa interview based on the applicant's risk of overstaying. It's important to note that this program applies only to single-entry visas, valid for three months.
Applicants will be required to submit DHS Form I-352 agreeing to the bond terms upon consular officer instruction, with payment made through the U.S. Treasury's official platform, Pay.gov.
This 12-month initiative is a response to high overstay rates and screening concerns, as authorised under INA Section 221(g)(3). The U.S. president has tightened visa issuance conditions for numerous countries, including many in Africa, as part of a commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and protecting national security.
The State Department notice states that around 500,000 people overstayed their authorized stay in the U.S. during the 2023 fiscal year (October to October). The program aims to ensure that visa applicants do not overstay their authorized stay in the U.S.
The pilot program is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to combat illegal immigration. Human Rights Watch has condemned the "degrading and dehumanizing" conditions in several migrant detention centers in recent months.
It's worth mentioning that approximately 40 countries, mainly in Europe, participate in a limited-duration 90-day visa waiver program. The U.S. has recently suspended visa issuance to Burundian nationals, citing "repeated violations" by citizens of this impoverished African country.
The program targets foreign nationals from countries identified as having high rates of overstaying their authorized stay or those whose control and verification information is deemed insufficient. The project will be published in the federal register on Tuesday and will take effect 15 days later.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the Trump administration's commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and protecting national security. Donald Trump has made the fight against illegal immigration a top priority since his return to power in January.
[1]: FY 2023 Overstay Report [2]: Official announcement of the pilot project [3]: INA Section 221(g)(3) [4]: DHS Form I-352 [5]: Details of the 12-month initiative
- This new visa bond pilot program, scheduled for implementation in August 2025, aims to reduce overstay rates, particularly from Malawi and Zambia, by targeting applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas, as it forms part of a broader emphasis on immigration policy-and-legislation and national security.
- The 12-month initiative, authorized under INA Section 221(g)(3), is a response to the increased concern about crime-and-justice issues related to immigration, as evidenced by the high number of overstays reported in the FY 2023 Overstay Report.
