There could be some big changes coming for travelers heading to the United States. The U.S. government is looking at tightening visa rules, especially for visitors from countries with high rates of overstaying their visas. So, what’s on the table is a new proposal from the State Department that would require some travelers applying for business or tourist visas to pay a bond, anywhere from five to fifteen thousand U.S. dollars. The exact amount would depend on how risky the consular officer thinks the traveler is, and whether they can afford it. Now, this isn’t a brand-new idea. It’s actually a revised version of a pilot program first floated back in 2020 during the Trump administration. The aim is to encourage visitors to leave the U.S. on time. The bond would be refunded once the traveler leaves the country as scheduled and follows all the rules. But here’s the catch, critics say this could discourage tourism, especially from countries that already struggle with visa approvals. It’s important to note that travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, like most of Europe, Japan, and Australia, won’t be affected by this. But for others, this could be a costly new hurdle just to visit the U.S.
