US to Reinstate Visa Deposit Program to Curb Overstays

US Revives Visa Deposit Pilot Program

The U.S. government said on Monday it will require some tourist and business visa applicants to pay a deposit of as much as $15,000 in a bid to combat visitors overstaying their visas.

The State Department said the one-year pilot program will begin Aug. 20 and target applicants from countries with high rates of visa overstays. The move marks a further extension of Trump-era anti-immigration policies.

Who Will Be Affected?

The group potentially included in the plan includes “nationals of countries whose citizens have high overstay rates, as identified by the Department of State, insufficient screening and vetting information, or who are otherwise deemed high-risk, and aliens who obtained citizenship through investment and have no residence requirements.”

Consular officers may choose among three bond amounts—$5,000, $10,000, and $15,000—but should generally set it at $10,000.

Country List and Amounts

The list of countries included in the visa program will be published on the State Department’s website and at least 15 days before the pilot program takes effect. The list may be adjusted, with similar 15-day notice.

Refund of Deposit

According to U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the deposits paid will be refunded when tourist and business visitors leave the United States, become naturalized U.S. citizens, or die.

Historical Background

The State Department said the first Trump administration crafted a six-month visa bond pilot program in 2020 but it was not implemented because of reduced global travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rule at the time would have required tourist and business visitors from more than 20 countries with overstay rates of 10% or higher, mostly African nations, to pay a $15,000 deposit.

Trump Executive Order

The new plan is a response to an executive order Trump signed on the day he was re-elected in January entitled “Protecting Americans From Invasion.”

The order directed the Treasury Secretary in conjunction with the Secretary of State and the Homeland Security Secretary to “establish a system to facilitate the administration of all bonds, in accordance with the terms of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Diplomatic Tool

The State Department described the plan as a “diplomatic tool,” adding that it is “intended to incentivize foreign governments to take immediate action to lower overstay rates of their nationals traveling to the United States on short-term visits.”Trump's Immigration Restrictions

The Trump administration has been severely restricting U.S. immigration, including terminating temporary protected status for many living in the U.S., and a sweeping ban on immigrant visas from 12 countries, a move reminiscent of the “Muslim ban” implemented in his first term.

The U.S. State Department also last month released new guidance requiring U.S. diplomats to scrutinize the online activity of foreign students before issuing student and exchange visas. Students who refuse to open their social media accounts to U.S. officials will be suspected of concealing activities from the U.S.