Overview

• The Federal Register notice on August 5 launches a 12-month pilot mandating bail deposits of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 as a precondition for visas from certain non-waiver countries.
• Deposited amounts will be fully refunded to travelers who comply with visa conditions and leave the US before their visas expire.
• Citizens of all 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, such as Germany, are exempt from the bail requirement.
• The pilot complements existing measures including a $250 per-visa integrity fee and new personal interview requirements for visa renewals.
• Entry bans on travelers from 12 nations and visa prohibitions for seven others imposed in June remain in force under the administration’s broader security tightening.