Visas: Visa Bond Pilot Program

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of State 22 CFR Part 41 [Public Notice: 12783] RIN 1400-AG01 AGENCY: Department of State. ACTION: Temporary final rule. SUMMARY: In this temporary final rule (TFR), the Department of State (the Department) announces the commencement of a 12-month long visa bond pilot program. Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program. Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers. DATES: This TFR and pilot program are effective August 20, 2025 until August 5, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visa Services Office, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; telephone (202) 485-7586, VisaRegs@state.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Summary This TFR establishes a visa bond pilot program (“Pilot Program”) under section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1201(g)(3) , which authorizes consular officers to require the posting of a Maintenance of Status and Departure Bond (“visa bond”) by an alien applying for, and otherwise eligible to receive, a busine…