Tunisian visa applicants may face up to $20,000 bond for US tourist and business visas

This measure follows the US State Department's decision to make its visa bond program permanent, effective August 3, 2026. The program targets applicants from countries deemed high-risk due to high overstay rates, insufficient information sharing, or weaknesses in identity and background verification. Tunisia is among the countries that may be subject to this program.

Consular officers will have three bond levels: $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, with $15,000 being the reference amount. The specific amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis. A $10,000 bond may be set if the applicant's resources are limited, while a $20,000 bond may be required for higher-risk situations.

The State Department clarifies that this bond is not an additional fee; it is refunded if the visa holder complies with their stay conditions and departs the US on time. However, the bond is forfeited if visa conditions are violated, such as overstaying, late application for status change or extension, or seeking asylum after entering the US. Starting October 1, 2027, the $20,000 maximum bond will be re-evaluated every seven years based on US inflation.

The US authorities justify the program's permanence by citing results from a pilot launched in August 2025. During the first ten months of the pilot, overstays in the 50 affected countries dropped significantly, though