The U.S. travel industry has raised concerns over a possible expansion of the Trump administration’s visa bond program, warning that it could discourage international visitors and hurt the U.S. tourism sector and economy.
The program currently covers around 50 countries. Under the policy, some tourist and business visa applicants from designated countries may be required to post a refundable bond of up to $20,000. The bond can be forfeited if travelers overstay their visas or violate visa conditions.
The program was initially launched as a pilot in August 2025 and has now been adopted as a permanent policy. Reports suggest that additional countries could be added, potentially including all countries whose citizens require a U.S. visa.
U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman warned that expanding the program could have a “detrimental effect” on the U.S. economy and travel industry.
The concerns come as international travel to the U.S. is already facing a decline. Compared with 2019, travel from Canada has dropped by 25%, while travel from Asia has declined by around 50%. Overall overseas travel to the U.S. has also fallen year-over-year.
The tourism industry had expected the 2026 FIFA World Cup to bring a major boost in international visitors. However, international travel declined by 1.8%, raising further concerns about the sector’s outlook.
The U.S. administration has defended the visa bond program as a measure to reduce visa overstays and address concerns related to vetting, information sharing and document security.
With the possibility of adding new countries with just 15 days’ notice, the travel industry fears that a broader visa bond requirement could further discourage international visitors and weaken the U.S. tourism economy.
