Mandatory $15,000 visa bond required for travelers from two specific countries: Is this a cause for concern for Indian tourist-goers?
The US Department of State has announced a new Visa Bond Pilot Program, set to begin on August 20, 2025, targeting foreign nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates. The program initially applies to citizens of Malawi and Zambia, as these countries have been identified as having significant B-1/B-2 visa overstay rates, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2023 Overstay Report.
Under the program, affected travelers from Malawi and Zambia applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas must post a financial bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 at the discretion of consular officers before visa issuance. The bond is intended to cover estimated immigration enforcement costs and incentivize compliance with visa terms.
The program specifically targets countries with relatively high overstay rates compared to others. For instance, India, which is not currently included in the pilot program, has a lower overstay rate and, therefore, is not subject to this bond requirement at this time.
For those from Malawi and Zambia who comply with all visa bond terms, the full bond amount will be returned upon departure from the United States on or before the authorized stay date, not traveling to the United States before the visa expiration, or being denied admission at the U.S. port of entry.
It's important to note that the Department reserves the right to add additional countries with 15 days’ notice depending on future data.
Here's a summary of the countries currently subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program and their relative overstay rates:
| Country | Subject to Visa Bond Pilot Program? | Reason | Relative Overstay Rate | |--------------|------------------------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------| | Malawi | Yes | High B-1/B-2 overstay | High (higher than India) | | Zambia | Yes | High B-1/B-2 overstay | High (higher than India) | | India | No | Lower overstay rates | Lower (not subject to bonds) |
For students entering the US holding F-1 Study visas, the overstay rate was 19.71%. The US faces a potential 30-40% drop in new international student enrollments for September, risking a loss of 1,50,000 foreign students.
To apply for the visa bond, applicants must submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and pay the bond amount through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov.
- The Visa Bond Pilot Program, commencing on August 20, 2025, will require travelers from Malawi and Zambia, identified for their high B-1/B-2 visa overstay rates, to post a financial bond before visa issuance.
- The bond amount, set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 at the discretion of consular officers, is designed to cover immigration enforcement costs and motivate compliance with visa terms.
- In the summary, it was noted that India has a lower overstay rate compared to Malawi and Zambia, and as a result, it is currently not subject to the visa bond requirement.
- This bond program is part of a larger effort to combat visa overstay issues, which, if not addressed, could lead to a potential 30-40% drop in new international student enrollments and a loss of 1,50,000 foreign students.
