The U.S. Travel Association has raised concerns that the Trump administration could expand its visa bond program to more countries, warning that such a move could hurt the U.S. travel industry and economy. The U.S. Department of State recently made permanent a program that allows consular officers to require certain tourist and business visa applicants from 50 countries to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000.
U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman said there are indications the program could eventually be extended to additional countries where visas are required. The administration says the measure is intended to reduce visa overstays and address concerns over information-sharing, vetting and document security. According to the administration, visa issuances from the countries covered fell 83% during the first 10 months of the pilot, while overstays dropped sharply.
The travel industry says the policy comes as international travel to the United States is already facing challenges. Travel from Canada has declined by 25%, while travel from Asia is reportedly at about half of 2019 levels. Total overseas travel to the U.S. fell 4.3% year-to-date through June, including a 1.8% decline in June during the soccer World Cup. Freeman urged policymakers to focus on encouraging international visitors rather than adopting measures that could further discourage travel.
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