Washington: The United States government, under the Trump administration, has introduced a new rule mandating business and tourist visa applicants to deposit a security bond before entering the country. The Department of Homeland Security announced that, starting August 20, applicants will be required to submit a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as part of stricter visa regulations aimed at tightening entry procedures.
Officials said the move is intended to address frequent cases of visa overstays. The US government has already tightened the visa issuance process, with increased social media vetting and scrutiny of discrepancies in applicants’ profiles. Authorities observed that many visitors on business and tourist visas remain in the country beyond the permitted duration, prompting the introduction of the new bond requirement.
The policy will not apply universally; the Department of Homeland Security will soon release a list of countries where the bond rule will be enforced. The bond may be waived based on individual circumstances and will not apply to citizens from nations under the Visa Waiver Program. This program, which currently includes 42 countries—mostly from Europe, with some from Asia and the Middle East—allows travel to the US for up to 90 days for business or tourism without a visa.