The U.S. Travel Association reported concerns Wednesday that the Trump administration may expand a visa bond program to more countries. The program allows consular officers to require refundable bonds of up to $20,000 from certain tourist and business visa applicants. U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman stated that a broader rollout could have a detrimental impact on the travel industry and the national economy.
The U.S. Department of State made the program permanent this month after launching it as a pilot in August 2025. It currently covers 50 countries, primarily in Africa, with others in Asia, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The administration stated the program is intended to reduce visa overstays from countries with high overstay rates or insufficient document security and vetting procedures.
According to administration data, visa issuances in the 50 pilot countries dropped 83% during the first 10 months of the program. During that same period, overstays from those nations fell from 45,488 in fiscal 2024 to fewer than 50. While the affected countries represent less than 2% of total visitors to the U.S., the travel industry is currently reporting broader declines, including a 25% drop in travel from Canada and a 50% decrease from Asia compared to 2019 levels.
The scale of the impact is reflected in the 83% drop in visa issuances already observed in the 50 pilot countries. If the program moves beyond these nations to all visa-required countries, the U.S. Travel Association warns of a sharp decline in international arrivals. Current preliminary data from the National Travel and Tourism Office already shows a 4.3% year-to-date decline in overseas travel as of June. This trend continued even during the soccer World Cup in June, which saw a 1.8% decrease in arrivals despite the major international event.
For the U.S. economy, fewer international visitors mean reduced revenue for hotels, airlines, restaurants, and retail sectors. The U.S. Department of State has not yet confirmed an expansion but noted that new countries can be added to the list with 15 days' notice. Under the current rules, travelers who overstay their visas or violate other status conditions forfeit their bond entirely. The travel industry had advocated for policies to encourage visitation following the World Cup, but the permanent status of the bond program sets a precedent for using financial collateral as a primary enforcement tool against visa overstays.
The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the U.S. Travel Association’s statements. Under the current rule, the bond is forfeited if a traveler fails to comply with the conditions of their stay. The government may add new countries to the program at any time provided they give the 15-day notice period.