What we know so far

The United States is launching a pilot program that may require some incoming passengers to pay bonds up to $ 15,000 for entry.

The 12-month program is partly aimed at visitors from countries with historically high visas for over-all, according to AN An unpublished temporary final rule Posted in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

This is the last move of Trump’s administration to tighten the laws on immigration in the US, following a Prohibition of travel to citizens from 12 countries in June and Visa’s “$ 250 dollar” In July.

Here’s what we know about the bond program, based on the Federal Registry Notice:

Who will have to pay?

The program applies to leisure and business travelers who need B-1 or B-2 visas To enter the US and who come from countries:

• who have high levels of visa,
• When the screening and verification information is considered insufficient, or
• who offer citizenship for investment without a residence requirement.

Which countries are this?

The US Department of State will announce the list of countries today.

Stays will be based on 2023 of the Ministry of Interior Security Entrance/Exit from a reportS This report, published on August 5, 2024, shows countries with high levels of overstutes, includes Chad (50%), Laos (35%) and Haiti (31%).

However, countries with the most common overcrowded are Mexico (approximately 49,000), Brazil (21,000), Colombia (41,000), Haiti (27,000), Venezuela (22,000) and the Dominican Republic (20,000).

How many people will have to pay?

Not much.

The State Department said it expects about 2000 people to publish visa bonds during the pilot program, given the number of people who are qualified to receive American visas and “uncertainty” about the number of people who can pay it.

How many bonds are?

There are three levels of bonds: $ 5,000, $ 10,000 and $ 15,000.

The amounts of the bond are at the discretion of the consular officers, provided that guidelines. The amounts will be based on “travelers’ personal circumstances, including their reason for traveling, employment, income, skills and education.

Travelers who are required to pay a visa bond must enter and leave the US through specific entry ports, which will be announced on a later date.

Why a pilot program instead of a blanket rule?

The purpose of the 12-month pilot is at least twice, according to the US State Department.

It is mainly aimed at accessing the feasibility of the processing and disposal of bonds, which the government has previously considered “cumbersome.” But it will also help to determine whether the bonds force visitors to comply with their visa conditions.

However, the government report states that the pilot program is a “diplomacy tool” designed to encourage foreign governments to reduce the super -bedroom percentages of its citizens and to improve the processes of screening and check on travel.

More special, The pilot program provides more details than the blanket $ 250 “Visa’s integrity fee“Declared in July, including when it will start, how it will be applied and processes for the publication and refund of bond sums.

How many visitors to the United States are over -visa conditions?

Only 1% -2% of non -migrants visitors exceeded their visas every year From 2016 to 2022, According to the US Congress Research Service.

However, 42% of the approximate 11 million people who live in the United States without permission enter valid visas, but have never left then, data show.

In 2019, the Ministry of Interior Security estimated that over 320,000 people had overcome their visas, although this included travelers who ultimately left the country, according to the State Department’s Bond Notice.

– Cael Ling from CNBC has contributed to this story.