New U.S. program could make certain travellers from Canada post US$15K bond
The U.S. could soon ask some people travelling from Canada to post a hefty “visa bond.”
A notice published by the U.S. State Department in the Federal Register on Tuesday, Aug. 5, announced that it would be piloting a 12-month-long visa bond program.
Under this pilot program, tourists and business visa applicants (B-1 or B-2) who are nationals of certain countries may need to post bonds of US$5,000 (C$6,889.43), US$10,000 (C$13,778.85) or US$15,000 (C$20,668.28).
“By its design and intention, the Pilot Program is a tool of diplomacy, intended to encourage foreign governments to take immediate action to reduce the overstay rates of their nationals when traveling to the United States for temporary visits, and to encourage countries to improve screening and vetting and the security of travel and civil documents, including in the granting of citizenship,” reads the notice.
Which countries will be subject to the U.S. visa bond pilot program?
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The measure, which comes into effect on Aug. 20, is a part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration. It aligns with Executive Order 14159, which has expanded the use of expedited removal, an immigration policy that allows the government to deport individuals without a court hearing.
Daily Hive asked the U.S. Department of State for its full list of countries whose nationals will be impacted. “We have no updates to share at this time regarding which countries may be affected. We will provide additional information as it becomes available,” a spokesperson told us.
Countries that the U.S. deems have “high overstay rates,” screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding obtaining a citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations may be subject to the program. However, the bond payment could be waived depending on a visa applicant’s individual circumstances.
According to the Federal Register notice, the bond won’t apply to citizens of countries who are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows travel for business or tourism for up to 90 days.
The pilot program will run until Aug. 5, 2026, and the country list may be updated from time to time.
Will Canadians be affected?
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While Canada is not a part of America’s VWP, the authorization for Canadians to visit the U.S. visa-free comes from other immigration laws. According to the federal government, Canadian citizens can usually stay in the U.S. for six months without a visa, so it’s unclear if they will be subject to the bond payment.
This pilot program is more likely to affect Canadian permanent residents and immigrants who are from countries that don’t align with the White House’s qualifications. Ottawa states that Canadian PRs may need a “non-immigrant visa” to enter the U.S.
This comes a month after the U.S. announced the “Visa Integrity Fee,” which means some people in Canada will pay nearly C$350 to travel to the U.S.
Additionally, as of April 11, Canadians visiting the U.S. for longer than 30 days must complete an “alien registration form” and get fingerprinted.