Foreign nationals maintaining specific US visas may soon encounter penalties reaching as much as $15,000.
The State Department plans to initiate an annual visa pilot program targeting tourism and business entries into the United States, set to roll out on August 20th. This program will require individuals from certain countries to pay bonds to gain entry.
The bond amounts can vary, potentially being $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. As per information in the Federal Registration Notice, which was highlighted by Reuters, if someone continues to hold the visa, they might forfeit that amount.
However, those who meet the visa conditions at the end of their stay will receive their money back.
The Visa Bond Pilot Program specifically focuses on applicants for B-1/B-2 visas, which cater to business and tourism, particularly from nations known for high overstay rates or insufficient screening.
State Department officials will soon announce which countries this pilot program will impact.
Targeted nations include Eritrea, Chad, Haiti, Yemen, and Myanmar, as they have faced scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding visa issues. Countries like Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo are also recognized for increasing visa overstay rates.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to tighten restrictions on illegal immigration into the United States.
Some research indicates that a significant proportion of illegal immigration stems from individuals overstaying their visas rather than crossing the US-Mexico border. A study noted that around 40% of the undocumented population consists of those who have overstayed their visas.
As of 2023, the US reportedly had an overstay rate of approximately 1.45%, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security.
President Trump has emphasized cracking down on illegal immigration, particularly concerning the US-Mexico border, as a core agenda for his second term.
Interestingly, the State Department previously looked into similar visa programs during Trump’s first term.
“However, the global travel decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic halted the implementation of these pilots, thus no data on their viability was provided,” stated the Federal Register Notice.
The Visa Bond Pilot Program is part of a presidential order from Trump’s first day in office aimed at reducing illegal immigration.
The State Department has yet to respond for further comment.
Trump suggested a prediction that the US might experience a negative net migration for the first time in five decades.
