Nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and Cuba are among travellers from 50 countries now subject to a permanent United States visa bond programme, following a new rule that took effect on Monday.
The US State Department announced that the programme, which was introduced on a trial basis in 2025, has now been made permanent. Under the policy, consular officers may require certain applicants for B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas to post cash bonds of US$10 000, US$15 000 or US$20 000, depending on their individual circumstances.
The State Department said the requirement does not apply automatically to every applicant. Instead, consular officers will determine on a case-by-case basis whether a visa bond is necessary.
The bond may be forfeited if a visa holder violates the conditions of their stay, including by overstaying their visa or seeking asylum or other humanitarian protection while in the United States.
The programme was first launched in August 2025 as a pilot intended to reduce visa overstays, improve information sharing with foreign governments and strengthen identity verification and screening procedures. It covered 50 countries and significantly reduced overstays among travellers who posted visa bonds. Based on those results, the State Department said it decided to make the programme permanent.
In the pilot programme, consular officers could require bonds of US$5 000, US$10 000 or up to US$15 000. The final rule eliminates the US$5 000 option and raises the maximum bond to US$20 000.
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
