Coming to the United States is about to become far more complicated and expensive for some travelers. Under a new pilot program, not only will certain visitors be required to post a bond of up to $15,000, they’ll also be limited to entering and exiting the U.S. only via designated airports.

New U.S. Visa Bond Program Requires Travelers To Use Only Specific Airports

Beginning August 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will launch a visa bond pilot program targeting nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates. Those applying for a B‑1/B‑2 tourist or business visa may be required to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. To further complicate matters, a clause in the Federal Register notice notes these travelers will be restricted to flying into and out of only a select number of U.S. airports.

The official list of countries has yet to be announced.

Only Select Airports Will Be Allowed

The Federal Register notice notes:

Compliance with the bond will require arrival into and departure from the United States by air from one of the airports pre-selected for use during this pilot program, based on their capacity to automatically confirm that the alien has departed the United States in accordance with the bond’s conditions. The selected airports will be announced on www.travel.state.gov 15 days ahead of bonds being implemented and may be modified on a rolling basis.

The purpose is to closely monitor compliance. The logic is that travelers posting large bonds and facing restricted access are more likely to be tracked and, if necessary, apprehended before violating their visa terms.

But civil rights and travel advocacy groups say the move reeks of profiling and will deter legitimate tourism, education, and business travel. It’s also likely to complicate operations for airlines, who now must verify eligibility based on not just visas, but airport restrictions.

Another New Fee: The $250 “Integrity” Charge

In a separate but parallel development, the U.S. is also preparing to implement a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for all nonimmigrant visa categories. That includes tourists, students, temporary workers, and exchange visitors. This fee will be required in addition to the visa bond (if applicable) and standard application fees.

The Visa Integrity Fee is set to begin on October 1, 2025.

CONCLUSION

We are on the cusp of a massive shift in how U.S. visas are handled. For travelers from targeted countries, the costs of visiting the U.S. will serve as a stonrg detrent to travel. The requirement to only use specific airports adds yet another layer of surveillance and inconvenience for foreign visitors. While these measures are billed as temporary pilots, the infrastructure being put in place suggests they’re designed to outlast the Trump administration.

image: DHS