Trump Administration Expands Visa Bond Requirement to Additional Countries

The U.S. State Department has added 25 more countries to a program requiring certain travelers to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for entry visas, bringing the total number of affected nations to 38. The policy, which largely targets countries in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, is set to take effect on January 21. According to the State Department, the bond amount — set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 — will be determined during the applicant’s B1/B2 visa interview and must be paid through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov system.

The expansion follows a pilot program launched in August and is intended to discourage visitors from overstaying short-term business and tourism visas. Venezuela was among the nations listed, coming shortly after the U.S. seized former leader Nicolas Maduro and transported him to New York. Officials say the initiative forms part of broader efforts to tighten visa compliance and strengthen immigration controls.

Since taking office last January, President Donald Trump has advanced a hard-line immigration agenda that includes stricter deportation measures, heightened screening of visa applicants, and enhanced review of travelers’ social media activity. While the administration argues these steps bolster national security, human rights groups have criticized the policies as restrictive and harmful to due-process and free-speech protections.

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