To prevent visa overstays the country has modified its immigration regime by including more countries on the visa bond list that must now pay a visa bond. These measures are aimed at the people traveling from countries known to misuse visas especially short-term visitor visa applications like the B-1/B-2 visa or those applying through Citizenship by Investment programs.
This measure will ensure that there is a financial deterrent to discourage overstaying with the required deposit of up to $15,000 being paid upfront before the processing of the visa applications and rendering them non-refundable once paid.
State Department’s Trial Visa Bond Initiative
The enforcement of this policy will be under a pilot project for one year and will be administered by the U.S. Department of State. The pilot project is set to run from August 20, 2025 to August 5, 2026 and it will apply to certain applicants for short-term business and tourist visas from designated high-risk countries.
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Persons liable for the bond will also be subjected to certain travel regulations including mandatory entry and exit through specified U.S. airports, Boston Logan (BOS), JFK (New York) and Dulles (Washington, D.C.). The consular interview will determine the bond amount between $5,000 and $15,000 which will be processed via Pay.gov using Form I-352 from the Department of Homeland Security.
What is the Returned Policy?
If the traveler abides by all visa stipulations a full refund is guaranteed and these stipulations include exiting the U.S. during the authorized period or not traveling at all. The Refunds are also applicable if the visa holder is rejected for entry on arrival. All conditions of the bond are listed in the official immigration bond form and must be strictly adhered to in order for the bond to be refunded.
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Who is Affected in India?
The visa bond regime targets only citizens from three nations The Gambia, Malawi and Zambia which have been reputed for high overstay rates some of them being above 30% in some categories. On the contrary, India is unbothered with an insignificant overstay rate of just 1.29% for B1/B2 visa holders in 2023. The program evolves indicating that surveillance will continue and seasons will change by adding or deleting countries based on future data.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Immigration policies are subject to change; consult official sources before making travel plans.
