United States enforces $15,000 security deposit demand for visa applicants classified as 'high-risk'
US Department of State Introduces Visa Bond Pilot Program for Malawi and Zambia
The United States Department of State has announced a new pilot program that requires business and tourist visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia to post a security bond of up to $15,000. The program, aimed at reducing visa overstays and strengthening border control, is set to begin on August 20, 2025.
The bond amounts will be determined at the visa interview and can range from $5,000 to $15,000. Applicants will be required to submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and pay the bond via the official U.S. Government platform Pay.gov.
This one-year pilot program, running through August 2026, targets countries with high rates of visa overstays and insufficient screening mechanisms. The list of affected countries may be amended with at least 15 days' notice.
The policy aims to assess applicants' ability to meet financial obligations and enforce more controlled entry procedures into the United States. It is part of broader efforts to address visa overstays and strengthen border control.
It's important to note that the regulation does not outline the process for determining which countries will be included in the program. The specific criteria for determining which applicants are subject to the bond requirement are also not detailed in the current regulation.
The policy applies specifically to visa categories for temporary business (B-1) and tourism (B-2). A three-tiered bond structure will be introduced, with bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The official release of the regulation is expected to provide more information about the criteria for the bond requirement and the list of affected countries. Until then, the list of affected countries has not been disclosed.
Recently, Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk's visa was revoked, confirmed by US Secretary of State Rubio, but this policy is not related to individual cases. Instead, it is part of a broader strategy to improve compliance with visa conditions and tighten entry procedures.
[1] US Department of State, "Visa Bond Pilot Program," 2025. [2] US Department of Homeland Security, "Bond Requirements for Certain Visa Applicants," 2025. [3] US Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Department of Homeland Security Form I-352," 2025. [4] Pay.gov, "U.S. Government Payment Platform," 2025. [5] US Department of State, "Amendments to the Visa Bond Pilot Program," 2025.
- Despite the introduction of a visa bond pilot program for Malawi and Zambia, it's essential to note that the policy does not pertain to individual cases, such as the revoked visa of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk.
- The specific criteria for determining which Turkish and other applicants are subject to the bond requirement under the Visa Bond Pilot Program are not detailed in the current regulation.
- Although the list of affected countries for the Visa Bond Pilot Program has not been disclosed, general-news outlets reported increased scrutiny in finance, business, politics, and other sectors related to visa-related matters in Istanbul, Turkey.
