The U.S. is introducing visa bonds of up to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries
Effective August 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will make the visa bond program permanent for applicants for tourist and business visas (categories B1/B2) from 50 countries, about 30 of which are African countries, while the State Department is still discussing whether to extend the deposit requirement to Ukrainians.
Under the new rules, consular officers have the right to require a security deposit of between $10,000 and $20,000 as a condition for issuing a visa. The State Department explains this as a measure to combat overstaying and notes that the pilot program has proven effective.
At the same time, human rights advocates criticize this decision, pointing out that the high financial barrier will restrict travel for people with legitimate reasons. The new measure is part of the Trump administration’s overall tightening of immigration policy, which also includes additional fees and expanded screening of applicants’ social media accounts.
Source: Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports if Democrats do not end the government shutdown. According to him, this is intended to ensure security at airports and put an end to the chaos caused by the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
Two fatal incidents involving ICE agents occurred in the U.S. within a week. According to The New York Times, both incidents took place during vehicle inspections.
