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07 August 2025

US Department of State introduces visa bond pilot program for certain visa applicants

The Department of State (DOS) published a temporary final rule (TFR) on 5 August 2025 in which it announced the commencement of a 12 month-long visa bond pilot program. Visa applicants subject to this program will include nationals of countries identified by DOS "as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting is deemed deficient" who apply for a B-1/B-2 visa (visitor to the United States for business and/or pleasure), as well as individuals who obtained Citizenship by Investment (CBI), if that citizenship was obtained absent a residence requirement. The TFR and pilot program are scheduled to go into effect on 20 August 2025 and scheduled to end on 5 August 2026.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY Law LLP group, and attached below, provides additional details.

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Attachment

Full text of Tax Alert

Document ID: 2025-1666

 

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