US to Require Deposits Up to $15,000 for Tourist Visas

The U.S. authorities will require deposits of up to $15,000 for certain tourist visas as part of a pilot program aimed at limiting the number of visitors who remain in the U.S. beyond their visa's permitted stay.

The program, which begins on August 20 and will last approximately one year, gives U.S. consular officers the discretion to impose deposits on visitors from countries with high rates of overstaying their permitted length of stay.

The deposits could be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the government generally expecting at least $10,000 to be required.

This measure comes as the Trump administration has made combating illegal immigration a priority.

A similar program was launched in November 2020 but was not fully implemented due to the pandemic.