The US is launching a pilot program that would require some inbound vacationers to pay bonds of as much as $15,000 to enter.
The 12-month program is aimed, partially, at guests from international locations with traditionally excessive visa overstay charges, based on a momentary remaining rule posted within the Federal Register on Tuesday.
It is the most recent transfer by the Trump administration to tighten immigration legal guidelines within the U.S., following a journey ban on nationals from 12 international locations in June and a $250 “visa integrity payment” announcement in July.
Here is what we all know in regards to the bond program, based mostly on the Federal Register discover:
When does the pilot program begin?
This system begins on Aug. 20, 2025 and can finish on Aug. 5, 2026.
Who must pay?
This system applies to leisure and enterprise vacationers who want B-1 or B-2 visas to enter the U.S., and who’re coming from international locations:
- which have excessive visa overstay charges,
- the place screening and vetting data is deemed inadequate, or
- that supply Citizenship by Funding with out a residency requirement.
Which international locations are these?
The U.S. Division of State initially acknowledged it will announce the checklist of nations as early as right now. After the rule was revealed within the Federal Register on Tuesday, the discover acknowledged that the checklist could be introduced “15 days forward of bonds being applied.”
CNBC Journey has reached out to the U.S. State Division to make clear this date.
Overstay charges will likely be based mostly on the Division of Homeland Safety’s 2023 Entry/Exit Overstay Report. This report, revealed on Aug. 5, 2024, reveals international locations with excessive overstay charges embrace Chad (50%), Laos (35%) and Haiti (31%).
Nonetheless, international locations with essentially the most complete overstays, by quantity, are Mexico (roughly 49,000), Brazil (21,000), Colombia (41,000), Haiti (27,000), Venezuela (22,000) and Dominican Republic (20,000).
How many individuals must pay?
Not many.
The Division of State mentioned it expects round 2,000 individuals will put up visa bonds throughout the pilot program, given the variety of people who find themselves certified to acquire U.S. visas and “uncertainty” surrounding the quantity of people that pays it.
How a lot are the bonds?
There are three ranges of bonds: $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000.
Bond quantities are on the discretion of consular officers, topic to tips. The quantities will likely be based mostly on vacationers’ “private circumstances,” together with their cause for touring, employment, revenue, abilities and schooling.
Vacationers who’re required to pay a visa bond should enter and depart the U.S. via particular ports of entry, which will likely be introduced at a later date.
Why a pilot program as a substitute of a blanket rule?
The aim of the 12-month pilot is a minimum of two-fold, based on the U.S. State Division.
It’s primarily aimed toward accessing the feasibility of processing and discharging bonds, which the federal government has beforehand deemed to be “cumbersome.” However it is going to additionally assist confirm whether or not bonds compel guests to adjust to their visa phrases.
The federal government’s discover, nonetheless, additionally states that the pilot program is a “instrument of diplomacy” supposed to spur overseas governments to cut back overstay charges of their nationals and enhance their journey screening and vetting processes.
Notably, the pilot program supplies extra particulars than the $250 “visa integrity payment” introduced in July, together with when it is going to begin, how it will likely be applied, and processes to put up and refund bonds quantities.
What number of U.S. guests overstay their visa phrases?
Only one%-2% of nonimmigrant guests overstayed their visas annually from 2016 to 2022, based on the U.S. Congressional Analysis Service.
Nonetheless, 42% of the estimated 11 million individuals who reside within the U.S. with out authorization entered on legitimate visas, however then by no means left, information reveals.
In 2019, the Division of Homeland Safety estimated that greater than 320,000 individuals overstayed their visas, although this consists of vacationers who finally left the nation, based on the State Division’s visa bond discover.
— CNBC’s Kaela Ling contributed to this story.
