U.S. to Require Up to $15,000 in Security Deposit to Enter the Country

Many people dream of visiting the United States. Some come for business. Others come to see famous places or visit family.

But U.S. officials are growing concerned about the number of visitors who stay longer than their visas allow.

Now, they are testing a new plan to deal with the problem.

Targeting Countries with High Rates of Visa Overstays

Starting August 20, a one-year pilot program will require some visa applicants to pay a large refundable bond, reports Reuters.

The bond will be between $5,000 and $15,000. Most applicants are expected to be asked for at least $10,000. The money will be returned only if the visitor leaves the U.S. before their visa expires.

This new rule applies to tourist and business visas. It targets people from countries that have high rates of visa overstays or poor systems for verifying identities.

The exact list of countries has not been made public. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said countries could be added or removed from the list over time.

According to government data, about 500,000 people overstayed their U.S. visas during the 2023 fiscal year.

Many of those were from countries in Africa, including Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo. Some countries on past travel ban lists, like Haiti and Yemen, also had high overstay rates.

Strict Immigration Approach

This isn’t the first time the U.S. has tried a bond program. A similar idea was launched in late 2020, but it didn’t move forward because of the pandemic.

The bond is not the only new cost. Starting October 1, another $250 fee will be added to most nonimmigrant visas.

This “visa integrity fee” will also be refunded if the traveler follows the visa rules.

The U.S. Travel Association says the new program could affect around 2,000 applicants. That’s a small number compared to overall travel to the U.S.

But critics say the new rules and costs may discourage people from visiting at all. They also point out that the U.S. could soon have the highest visa fees in the world.

The program reflects the U.S. government’s stricter immigration approach. Officials hope it will reduce overstays.

Travelers, however, may find the new costs and rules difficult to accept.