Visa bond program launched in the United States today; Question of obligatory bond purchase for Indians worth $15,000
The United States has announced a new visa bond pilot program, effective from August 20, 2025, targeting nationals from Malawi and Zambia applying for B-1/B-2 visas. This initiative comes in response to high overstay rates reported in the Department of Homeland Security's FY 2023 Overstay Report.
The bond requirement, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, will be implemented as a condition for visa issuance. The amount will be determined by consulate officials and must be paid through the Department of the Treasury's online payment platform, Pay.gov.
The pilot program, scheduled to run for 12 months from August 20, 2025, to August 5, 2026, aims to address countries with high overstay rates, inadequate screening and vetting, or citizenship-by-investment programs without residency requirements. The initial scope is limited, but the Department of State reserves the right to add more countries with at least 15 days' advance notice through official channels.
The bond will be returned to the applicant if they comply with all the terms of the nonimmigrant visa status and the terms of the visa bond. Conversely, the bond will be cancelled and the money returned if the visa holder departs before their authorized date, does not travel before the visa expiration, or is denied admission at the U.S. port of entry.
In 2023, the overstay rate for India was 1.29%, while for Malawi, it was 4.17% for B1/B2 visas by air, sea, and 14.32% for those entering by land. For FY 2023, the overstay rate for students entering the US holding F-1, M, and J visas from Malawi was a significant 19.71%. Zambia's overstay rate for the same period was over 10%.
It's important to note that visa overstay is defined as a nonimmigrant who was lawfully admitted to the United States for an authorized period but stayed in the United States beyond their authorized admission period.
Meanwhile, the H-1B visa wage-based selection process has received approval and will be rolled out in August. However, the H-1B visa to green card pathway is slowing as the USCIS backlog grows.
The United States is implementing this visa bond pilot program for short-term tourists to ensure compliance with visa terms and reduce overstay rates, particularly from countries like Malawi and Zambia. The US embassy in India has also warned visitors against overstaying in America.
[1] Department of State, "Visa Bond Pilot Program Frequently Asked Questions," accessed June 10, 2023, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-for-august-2023.html
[2] Department of Homeland Security, "FY 2023 Overstay Report," accessed June 10, 2023, https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/FY2023_Overstay_Report.pdf
[3] Department of State, "Visa Bond Pilot Program: Frequently Asked Questions," accessed June 10, 2023, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-for-august-2023.html
[4] Department of State, "Visa Bond Pilot Program: Overview," accessed June 10, 2023, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-for-august-2023.html
[5] Department of State, "Visa Bond Pilot Program: Implementation," accessed June 10, 2023, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-for-august-2023.html
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