Trump adds 25 countries to costly U.S. visa bond policy
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The Trump administration on Tuesday added 25 countries to the State Department's list of nation's whose citizens may be required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. entry.
The big picture: The additions bring the total to 38 countries, mostly in Africa, with in South America and Asia, whose travelers could face sharply higher costs to obtain U.S. visas, as part of the administration's broader strategy to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.
- The State Department says the bonds are designed to deter visitors from overstaying their visas for tourism or business, citing a 2024 DHS fiscal report that analyzed estimated overstay rates by country.
State of play: Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan have been subject to the bond requirement since Jan. 1, built off the State Department's pilot program launched in August 2025.
- The newly added nations' bond requirements will take effect on Jan. 21, according to an updated State Department site.
Worth noting: Venezuela was added to the list Tuesday, days after the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, as was Cuba — another country Trump has floated action against following that raid.
- The State Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on any connection between U.S. actions in Venezuela or Trump's remarks on Cuba and the designation.
Zoom in: Visa applicants from affected countries will be required to post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, determined at the time of the visa interview, per the agency.
- Approved visa holders will only be allowed to enter the U.S. through one of three airports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
- The State Department notes that posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and fees paid without officer's approval will not be refunded.
Go deeper: Trump administration halts immigration applications from 19 countries
