According to the latest notices from the U.S. authorities, a new pilot program will require some international travelers to put down deposits of up to $15,000 to guarantee their departure from the United States when their visa expires.
The program is expected to take effect on August 20, 2025, and will run for 12 months. If you are applying for or plan to apply for a U.S. tourist visa, this is information you should pay close attention to. Read on with TNT to learn more.
The program targets applicants for tourist or business visas from countries with high rates of overstays or with gaps in background checks and screening.
Based on 2023 data, more than 500,000 people remained in the U.S. after their visas expired, placing pressure on the immigration system.
Criteria for selecting countries to apply included:
- High overstay rates
- Gaps or weaknesses in the background screening system
- Individuals who obtain U.S. citizenship through investment but are not required to reside
Consular officers will determine the specific deposit amount, typically $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The deposit will be refunded if the traveler leaves the U.S. on or before the visa expiry date.
The U.S. State Department stated that in 2023 more than half a million people entered by air or sea but did not depart the U.S. on time. Beyond overstay concerns, the administration is worried about tourist visas or investor-for-citizenship visas that do not require residence, which could be exploited without adequate screening. The policy aims to tie financial obligations to encourage travelers to comply with departure deadlines.
Under current rules, consular officers have authority to request a visa deposit, but official foreign service manuals note that such requests are “rare, if ever” applied due to practical uncertainties. The new pilot program is designed to test that assumption, making deposit requests more common and systematic, with deposit amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The specific list has not yet been published. However, the program will target countries with high overstay rates or screening challenges.
The U.S. Travel Association projects roughly 2,000 people could be affected, mainly from countries with low tourist volumes but high overstay rates. Some countries cited as having high overstay rates in 2023 include Burundi, Djibouti, Togo, Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen.
