US imposes $15,000 security bond for visa applicants from 12 countries

US introduces $15,000 security bonds for select visa applicants amid immigration crackdown.

The United States has introduced a new, disputed rule on immigration, where applicants from certain countries have to pay a security bond of up to $15,000. It’s the latest move from the administration of President Donald Trump.

According to the State Department, the rule primarily applies to applicants of B-1 business visas and B-2 tourist visas. The amount of the security bond, ranging from $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, will be determined during the visa interview based on the risk assessment of the applicant.

The move aims at reducing the number of visa overstayers, a practice the United States has sought to curb for a long time. In the pilot program, about 97% of the 1,000 visa holders returned home as required.

The rule will take effect on April 2, and the initial countries targeted will be citizens from 12 countries, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. With this new rule, almost 50 countries, mostly in Africa, will face the same measure.

The government, however, clarified that payment of the bond does not automatically qualify a visa. In cases where the visa application is rejected or if the visa holder abides by the rules of their stay, the bond will be reimbursed.

This new rule is part of the larger immigration clampdown, which was stepped up after Trump’s return to office in January 2025. The new administration has already suspended immigrant visa processing for many countries, stepped up deportation, and suggested reducing refugee admissions to record-low levels.

This new rule is part of the larger immigration clampdown, which was stepped up after Trump’s return to office in January 2025. The new administration has already suspended immigrant visa processing for many countries, stepped up deportation, and suggested reducing refugee admissions to record-low levels.

As international travel becomes increasingly politicized, this new rule is a sign of a harder stance by the US, which will likely redefine how millions of people think about visiting the US in the years to come.