Going to US could now burn a ₹13L hole in your pocket. Add another ₹22,000 for 'integrity'

Foreign travelers to the United States may soon face significantly higher upfront costs for visiting the country. The Trump administration has announced a new pilot program that will require selected visitors to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 (around ₹13.17 lakh), along with a non-refundable “integrity fee”. The measures are aimed at deterring visa overstays and strengthening security screening.

The changes apply to applicants from countries with high visa overstay rates and will be implemented under a 12-month pilot program introduced by the US State Department.

Bond requirement to ensure compliance with visa terms

As per the notice, travelers applying for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visas may be asked to deposit a bond starting from $5,000 up to $15,000, depending on the consular officer’s determination. If the traveler leaves the US before the visa expires, the bond will be refunded in full. However, if they overstay, the entire amount will be forfeited.

“This pilot program is a key pillar of the Trump administration’s foreign policy to protect the United States from the clear national security threat posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting,” the administration said in a notice released on Monday.

The State Department has not listed specific countries yet. Eligibility will be based on visa overstay data published by the Department of Homeland Security. According to the data from 2023, over 500,000 travelers admitted by air or sea likely remained in the US beyond their permitted stay.

Integrity fee to cover enforcement costs
In addition to the bond, the State Department has introduced a non-refundable integrity fee that visa applicants will need to pay as part of the process. The fee is meant to cover administrative and enforcement-related expenses associated with monitoring compliance.

The pilot will also include travelers from countries with limited or deficient security screening systems, and individuals who received citizenship through investment-linked immigration routes or residency waivers.

Selected travelers under this program will be required to use only certain airports for arrival and departure. The list of eligible airports will be published 15 days before the new rules take effect.

Consular officers already have the authority to issue visa bonds, but the practice has been rare. The Foreign Affairs Manual describes the use of such bonds as “rarely, if ever,” due to practical difficulties. This program is designed to test those assumptions in a live environment.

A similar initiative was planned during Trump’s first term but was put on hold due to the collapse of global travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new regulation will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday and is expected to come into force on August 20.