---
title: "Visa bonds up to $20,000: US introduces strict financial guarantees for citizens of 50 countries"
description: "The US introduces a permanent visa bond program up to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries, including Georgia and Tajikistan. Authorities call it a security measure, but human rights defenders sound the alarm: it will create barriers for legal travel. 🇺🇸🚫🛂"
date: 2026-08-04T04:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-introduces-visa-bonds-up-to-20000-for-citizens-of-50-countries
tags: [donald-trump, us-state-department, visa-policy, georgia, tajikistan]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Visa bonds up to $20,000: US introduces strict financial guarantees for citizens of 50 countries

![Donald Trump smiling against the American flag — symbol of strict US visa rules with financial deposit up to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/04/ssha-vvodiat-vizovye-zalogi-20-tysyach-dollarov/ssha-vvodiat-vizovye-zalogi-20-tysyach-dollarov-1.webp)

The US Department of State has decided to make the visa bond program permanent. The new measure grants consular officers the authority to require applicants from 50 countries to post a cash bond when applying for non-immigrant visas. The amount of such financial security can reach $20,000.

### Operational mechanism and financial terms

Washington justifies the introduction of these measures by the need to reduce visa violations and ensure compliance with stay regulations. The program, which previously operated on a pilot basis since 2025, stipulated fixed bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Now, following the transition to permanent status, the minimum threshold of $5,000 will be abolished, and the maximum limit increased to $20,000.

The decision on the specific bond amount will be made by a consular officer individually for each applicant falling under the program. Posting funds becomes a mandatory condition for the issuance of a visa document.

### List of countries and geopolitical context

According to the State Department, the new rules will affect citizens of 50 states, 30 of which are in Africa. The list includes some former Soviet republics: Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. However, Ukraine is absent from the list of countries subject to the program.

The full and current list of states will be published on the website of the US Department of Tourism. Officially, the new rules will come into force after the publication of the corresponding notice in the US Federal Register.

### Government stance and public reaction

US President Donald Trump supported the initiative, stating that such measures are necessary to strengthen national security and combat illegal immigration. The administration views this as a tool for controlling foreigner flows.

However, human rights organizations express concern. Experts warn that introducing high financial barriers may create serious obstacles for people with legitimate reasons to travel to the US, effectively limiting visa access for certain categories of citizens.

### Trend towards monetizing stay

Experts note that the Donald Trump administration is striving to monetize the stay of foreigners in the States even more. Recently, news emerged about new initiatives: the possibility of introducing a special fee of $100,000 for foreign students planning to stay in the country to work after completing their studies is being considered. This indicates the formation of a new strict strategy in the field of migration policy.