Will I Have to Pay $15,000 to Enter the United States?

The United States government is clearly considering strategies to increase the cost of visiting the country. Even if you’re visiting for a short time as a tourist, you could face significant visa fees. Recently, the administration announced plans for a $250 tourist visa fee. Since then, the administration has announced additional plans to levy $15,000 fees for some visitors. But will you need to pay this fee? This is something you might want to ask an experienced immigration lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens.

The $15,000 Immigration Bond Explained 

In August of 2025, multiple sources reported that many new visitors to the United States could face a bond of $15,000. The administration plans to launch this new program within two weeks, and it may drastically affect travel plans for countless individuals. According to the Department of State, the purpose of this program is to deter people from abusing visas and overstaying in the country.

As of this writing, the program would target B-1 and B-2 visa applicants. Anyone applying from a country with a “high rate of overstays” would be subject to the $15,000 bond, according to Al Jazeera. This comes after the administration announced many other potential changes to deter overstays and illegal immigration. One planned change was a $250 fee for certain tourist visas, and there was also talk of a full or partial travel ban for certain countries.

Note that this payment would be refundable, and visitors would presumably receive their money back after leaving the country at the agreed-upon time. The applicant would only lose their bond if they overstay or violate the terms of their visa in other ways. According to the administration, up to 500,000 people overstayed in the United States during 2023 alone.

Will I Have to Pay the $15,000? 

Whether you’re planning to visit the United States for business or pleasure, you may need to check whether this new $15,000 bond applies to you. If so, you may need to pay the bond in order to gain approval for your B-1 or B-2 visa.

For entrepreneurs and businesspeople, this could dramatically affect your plans. If you do not have access to these funds, your business plans could be disrupted. That being said, the situation may not be as dire as you think. Consider working with an experienced immigration attorney to assess other types of visas aside from B-1 and B-2 options.

Can a Palm Beach Gardens Immigration Lawyer Help Me Avoid Visa Fees?

Although new fees might make it difficult to visit the United States, you may be able to avoid these costs with various strategies. An experienced immigration lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens may be able to help you assess some of these strategies, so consider scheduling a consultation with one of these legal professionals before your next trip to the United States. You can contact The Devore Law Group today for more information.

Source:

 aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/4/us-to-require-up-to-15000-bond-for-some-tourists