The United States has decided to make its visa bond program permanent as part of stricter immigration measures, allowing authorities to require applicants from certain countries to deposit a security bond of up to $20,000 before obtaining a US visa, 24NewsHD TV reported.
According to international media reports, the new policy will apply to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas.
Under the revised rules, US consular officers will have the authority to request a refundable security bond as a condition for issuing a visa to eligible applicants.
The US State Department said the pilot program, launched in 2025, proved effective in improving compliance with US visa regulations and reducing the number of visitors who overstay their visas.
Under the pilot scheme, applicants could be required to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
However, the new regulation removes the $5,000 option and increases the maximum bond amount to $20,000.
The new rule will take effect after its official publication in the Federal Register on August 3.
Of the 50 countries included in the program, nearly 30 are African nations, according to the report.
US officials said the primary objective of the measure is to reduce the number of foreign nationals who remain in the country illegally after their visas expire.
The move is part of a broader effort by the United States to tighten immigration enforcement, which in recent years has also included higher visa-related fees and enhanced screening of applicants' social media accounts.