A dozen more nations have been added to the U.S. State Department list requiring their citizens to post bonds of up to $15,000 to secure visas to the U.S.
Beginning April 2, citizens from 50 countries will now be subject to the policy as the Trump administration seeks to address visa overstays and illegal immigration. Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, and Lesotho were added to the expanding list this week, as well as Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.
“The State Department is expanding its visa bond program to apply to a total of 50 countries on April 2 and will require foreign nationals from these countries to post a bond of $15,000 before receiving B1 or B2 visas for business and tourism in the United States,” the Department said in a press release.
It costs the American taxpayer over $18,000 on average to remove an illegal alien from the United States.
Our expanded visa bond program will save U.S. taxpayers up to $800 MILLION per year while drastically reducing the number of illegal visa overstays. pic.twitter.com/ck8EPFaZd1
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 18, 2026
“The Biden Administration had 44k illegal overstays from these countries in just one year. We have near ZERO with bonds,” Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, said in a post on X.
“This is saving American taxpayers over $800 million per year they would have had to pay to remove aliens from these countries who overstayed. This commonsense solution is just one example of our effective consular policies that are putting Americans and their interests first,” she added.
Under the leadership of @POTUS and @SecRubio, we have expanded our successful visa bonds pilot program to nationals of an additional 12 countries, bringing the total to 50 countries. The Biden Administration had 44k illegal overstays from these countries in just one year. We have…
— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 18, 2026
“The visa bond program has already proven effective at drastically reducing the number of visa recipients who overstay their visas and illegally remain in the United States,” the State Department noted. “Nearly 1,000 foreigners have been issued visas under the program, and 97% of bonded travelers have returned home from the United States on time.”
The expanded visa bond program saves the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
It costs the U.S. taxpayer $18,000+ on average to remove an illegal alien from the country and this move will save taxpayers up to $800 million per year.
— Dylan Johnson (@ASDylanJohnson) March 18, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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