State Dept Plans Visa Bond Program Up to $15,000 for Foreign Visitors

The U.S. State Department has announced plans to implement a 12-month pilot program requiring certain visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for business or tourist visas. According to a notice scheduled for publication in the Federal Register, the program would apply to applicants from countries identified as having high visa overstay rates or deficient document security controls. The bonds would be set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 depending on risk assessment factors.