US to require up to $15,000 bond for visa applicants from 12 new countries

The Trump administration is requiring visa applicants from 12 newly designated countries to post bonds of up to $15,000 as a condition of entry to the United States. The policy is part of a broader effort by the White House to tighten both legal and illegal immigration pathways into the country. Bond requirements are meant to ensure visa holders comply with entry terms and depart when visas expire, shifting financial risk to applicants themselves. The measure targets nations the administration has identified as presenting higher immigration compliance concerns. This represents an escalation of immigration restrictions already implemented since Trump took office in January 2025.