The U.S. State Department is proposing a pilot program that may require certain visa applicants to post bonds up to $15,000 to enter the United States.
True
The State Department may soon mandate visa seekers to post bonds up to $15,000 to gain entry into the U. S
State Department may require visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter the US
Source: apnews.com
At a glance
Verified August 5, 2025Key Evidence
The State Department announced a 12-month pilot program requiring bonds up to $15,000 for visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates.
apnews.comapnews.comState Department may require visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000 to...
nytimes.comnytimes.comU.S. to Require Some Foreign Visitors to Pay Bonds of Up to $15,000 for Entry
The bond applies primarily to business and tourist visa applicants and aims to ensure compliance with visa terms.
timesleader.comtimesleader.comState Department may require visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000 to...
independent.co.ukindependent.co.ukState Department could soon ask visa applicants to pay up to $15,000 to enter...
News outlets including The New York Times, AP News, PBS NewsHour, and others have reported on this proposal in August 2025.
pbs.orgpbs.orgU.S. may require visa applicants to post bond up to $15,000 to enter country
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple reputable news sources from August 2025 confirm that the U.S. State Department is planning to implement a new policy requiring some foreign visitors applying for business and tourist visas to post a bond of up to $15,000. This measure targets applicants from countries with high visa overstay rates and weak internal document security controls. The bond is intended as a financial guarantee to ensure that visitors leave the U.S. Before their visas expire.
Key points include:
The bond requirement is part of a 12-month pilot program announced in a Federal Register notice.
The bond amount can be as high as $15,000 but may start at a minimum of $5,000 depending on circumstances.
The policy aims to reduce visa overstays and improve immigration enforcement.
This requirement could make obtaining visas unaffordable for some applicants.
This proposal is currently under consideration and has not yet been fully implemented, but the announcement and details are publicly available and reported by multiple credible outlets.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source