The US State Department has decided to make its visa bond program permanent, allowing consular officers to require certain B-1 and B-2 visa applicants from 50 countries to post bonds of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued. The program, aimed at reducing visa overstays, will take effect on August 3 when the final rule is published in the Federal Register.
The rule applies to B-1 visas for business travel and B-2 visas for tourism. Under the new policy, consular officers can require eligible applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition for receiving a visa.
