Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

The U.S. government is planning a big change for people who want to visit America for business or tourism. A new rule might soon make it harder and more expensive for travelers from certain countries to get a U.S. visa.

Under this plan, people applying for a short-term visa (like for a vacation or work trip) may need to pay a security bond of $5,000, $10,000, or even $15,000. This bond is like a safety deposit — money held by the U.S. government to make sure visitors follow the rules of their visa and leave on time.

This is part of a 12-month trial program announced by the U.S. State Department. The goal is to reduce the number of people who enter the country on legal visas but stay longer than allowed, which is called overstaying.

This pilot program is aimed at travelers from countries where many people have overstayed in the past or where the government’s ID and passport systems are not considered very secure. It may also include countries that offer "citizenship by investment," meaning people can get a passport just by paying money and without living there. The final list of countries affected by this rule has not yet been released.

The U.S. government says the bond could be waived (not required) for some applicants depending on their personal situation, such as past travel history or strong financial and family ties to their home country.

This new rule will not affect people from countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program. That program allows citizens from 42 friendly countries (mostly in Europe, and a few in Asia and the Middle East) to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa.

This visa bond idea is not entirely new. It has been suggested in the past, but never put into action because it was seen as difficult to manage and might create confusion among travelers. However, the government now says there is no recent proof that it’s unworkable, so they’re willing to try it out.

Besides this, the U.S. has already made other visa rules stricter in recent weeks. For example:

• Many people who want to renew their visas will now need to attend in-person interviews, even if they didn’t have to before.
• People applying for the Diversity Visa Lottery will now need to have a valid passport from their country of origin when applying. This is to avoid fraud.

The government says the bond is to protect itself financially. If a visitor breaks the visa rules, such as by staying in the U.S. after the visa expires, the government wants to avoid being responsible for the costs, like deportation or legal proceedings.

When this rule is officially published in the Federal Register (a U.S. government website where new rules and laws are shared), it will go into effect within 15 days. The government will then closely watch how the system works during the 12-month period.

This new rule has raised concerns among people in many countries. Travelers who want to visit family or explore the U.S. for a vacation may now find it too expensive or too complicated. A $15,000 bond could be more than the cost of the entire trip, and for many, it will be out of reach.

The plan is part of the U.S. government’s tougher stance on immigration and border control under the current leadership. The goal, officials say, is to reduce abuse of the visa system and make sure only genuine travelers are allowed in.

This change is especially important for countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where visa rejection rates and overstays have been higher in recent years. Many families and travelers may now need to rethink their travel plans or delay visits until more clarity is provided.

While the pilot program is temporary for now, it may become permanent if the U.S. government finds it successful. The government plans to study how effective the bond requirement is in reducing overstays, improving compliance, and ensuring national security.

For now, people thinking about applying for a U.S. tourist or business visa in the coming months should watch closely for updates and check if their country is on the final list. If the bond applies to them, they’ll need to prepare to pay a large amount upfront — money they will only get back if they strictly follow the visa rules.