From $15,000 bond to stricter rules for married couples: 5 major changes in US visa rules

1. Visa bonds up to $15,000 for high-risk countries

A new pilot program by the US State Department will require some tourists and business visa applicants to post a bond of $5,000 to $15,000 to be eligible for a US visa. The rule targets countries with high visa overstay rates and weak internal document controls.

The 12-month program is intended to discourage visa violations and starts on August 20. The bond may be waived based on individual circumstances, but the list of affected countries will only be revealed once the policy takes effect.

On Tuesday, the State Department confirmed that visitors from Zambia and Malawi would be the first to be targeted under the new policy.

2. $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant visa holders

Effective 2026, all non-immigrant visa applicants—including B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F and M (student), H-1B (work), and J (exchange)—will have to pay a $250 Visa Integrity Fee. This new surcharge is pegged to inflation and acts as a refundable security deposit only if visitors leave on time or adjust their status properly.

Diplomatic visa holders (A and G categories) are exempt. Failure to meet the strict refund conditions means the fee will be forfeited to the US Treasury.

The $250 fee will be levied in addition to the $185 cost of the nonimmigrant visa itself.

The fee will not apply to most visitors from Canada or to visitors covered by the United States’ visa-waiver program, which includes much of Europe and a handful of countries in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere.

3. New USCIS rules for green card marriages

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued fresh guidance to curb fraudulent marriage-based green card petitions.

Key changes include:

• Stronger proof of legitimate relationships (shared finances, photos, personal letters)
• Mandatory in-person interviews for more couples
• Closer review of prior petitions and immigration history
• Clarification that approved petitions do not protect from removal if other grounds for deportation exist

These rules took effect on August 1, 2025, and apply to both new and pending cases.

4. Additional visa-related charges introduced

Under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed on July 4, several non-waivable travel fees are being introduced alongside the Integrity Fee:

• $24 I-94 fee for all non-immigrant visa holders
• $13 ESTA fee for Visa Waiver Program users
• $30 EVUS fee for Chinese citizens with 10-year B-1/B-2 visas

These charges significantly increase the cost of obtaining a US visa, especially for travellers from developing countries.

5. Interview waiver rollback: In-Person interviews now mandatory for most

Starting September 2, 2025, the US Department of State will require in-person visa interviews for nearly all non-immigrant visa applicants, including children under 14 and seniors over 79—two groups previously exempted.

This policy, issued on July 25, reverses earlier COVID-era relaxations and affects key visa categories such as: B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F and M (students), H-1B (work), J (exchange).

Only a few exceptions remain: Diplomatic and official visa categories (A-1, A-2, G-1 through G-4, NATO, TECRO), Renewals of B-1/B-2 visas within 12 months of expiration, if the applicant was at least 18 at the time of the previous visa, applications submitted in the applicant’s home country or country of residence, applicants with no prior visa refusals (unless overturned or waived) and, applicants with no apparent ineligibility.

Even when the waiver criteria are met, consular officers have full discretion to require interviews on a case-by-case basis.

Impact on Indian travellers

The cost of a US tourist/business visa for Indian applicants is expected to nearly triple—from around $185 (₹15,855) to about $472 (₹40,456)—when all the new surcharges take effect. This includes the $250 Integrity Fee, $24 I-94 fee, and other charges.

While these new rules aim to curb visa abuse, critics warn they could discourage genuine applicants, increase costs disproportionately, and burden legal immigrants.