Trump admin expands visa bond program to 38 countries
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Trump administration is dramatically expanding the policy that requires some foreign travelers to post up to $15,000 in bonds before entering the United States.
The State Department added 25 countries to its visa bond list on Tuesday, nearly tripling the total shortly after adding seven more countries as part of the Trump administration’s moves to tighten sanctions on immigrants.
There are currently 38 countries subject to this requirement; most of these are in Africa, others in Latin America and Asia; This can make obtaining a US visa unaffordable for many travelers.
The bond requirement for the latest additions, including Venezuela, will take effect January 21.
TRUMP DEPARTMENT OF STATE ORDERS TO REMOVE GLOBAL VISAS UNDER RENEWED ‘PUBLIC CHARGE’ RULE
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Capitol Hill in Washington DC on December 16, 2025 for a closed-door meeting with lawmakers. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
According to an announcement published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, travelers eligible for a B1/B2 visa from the countries on the list are required to pay a deposit of US$ 5,000, US$ 10,000 or US$ 15,000 in the amount determined during the visa interview.
Payment of the deposit will not guarantee that the visa has been approved, but the amount will be refunded if the visa is rejected or the visa holder demonstrates compliance with the visa conditions.
The expansion follows a pilot program launched by the State Department in August that required some visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates and inadequate document security checks to post a bond.
HOMELAND SECURITY IS MOVING TO REVIEW FOREIGN TOURISTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS BEFORE ENTRY
Under the State Department’s expanded policy, travelers from certain countries will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000. (iStock)
The Trump administration last year implemented numerous immigration policy changes that affect how people travel, obtain visas, and become citizens in the United States; Some measures are planned to come into force in 2026.
The Trump administration is requiring citizens of all visa-requiring countries to attend in-person interviews and disclose years of social media history, as well as information about their family’s previous travel and living arrangements.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WITHDRAWS VISAS FROM MEXICO ADMINISTRATORS IN COLLUSION AGAINST MIGRANT TRAFFICKING
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on September 19, 2025, creating the “Trump Gold Card” and imposing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. The “Trump Gold Card” is a visa program that grants foreign nationals permanent residence in the United States and access to US citizenship in exchange for an investment of $1 million in the United States. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a new rule on December 26, 2025 that expands the scope of facial recognition for non-U.S. citizens.
President Donald Trump also recently announced the launch of the highly anticipated “Trump Gold Card,” an immigration initiative designed to provide a new, streamlined path to U.S. citizenship that he says could bring in billions of dollars.
New countries added to the visa requirement as of January 21 include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Countries on the list include Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Zambia.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
