The United States has launched a controversial pilot program requiring certain visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000—raising concerns that Caribbean countries with Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programs may soon be targeted under the Trump administration’s evolving immigration strategy.
The 12-month initiative, which begins August 20, applies to nationals from countries whose citizens may lack sufficient residency, personal history, or ties to their stated nationality. According to a Temporary Final Rule published in the Federal Register, this includes individuals who obtained citizenship through investment without ever residing in the issuing country.
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While no Caribbean nations have officially been named, the language of the rule makes clear they could be added. Officials cited “screening and vetting deficiencies” in nations offering CBI programs, suggesting that individuals from these jurisdictions may face additional scrutiny and bond requirements.
Policy Details and Broader Implications
Currently, the bond requirement is limited to Malawi and Zambia, both of which have visa overstay rates exceeding 10%. However, the structure of the pilot program indicates the U.S. government may extend it to citizens of CBI nations. This move follows a June 2025 State Department memo that identified seven CBI countries among 36 being considered for potential travel restrictions.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister responded at the time by asserting, “We will not be bullied; our foreign policy is one of principle.” This sentiment echoes widespread Caribbean concern over what regional leaders see as discriminatory and heavy-handed U.S. immigration policies.
The program stems from Executive Order 14161, which directed the Secretary of State to review all visa programs to ensure they are not used by “foreign nation-states or other hostile actors” to threaten U.S. security or interests. Officials have expressed specific concerns that CBI programs allow for identity obfuscation, including name changes that could shield past criminal or illicit activity.
The Department of State outlined three categories under which bond requirements may be imposed:
- Countries with high visa overstay rates.
- Countries with insufficient screening and vetting infrastructure.
- Countries offering citizenship without residency requirements.
This tripartite framework gives the administration broad leeway to expand the bond policy while maintaining the appearance of objective justification.
Bond Amounts, Oversight, and Enforcement
Under the policy, consular officers will assign bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 based on the applicant’s risk profile, with $10,000 expected as the default. According to the Federal Register, these figures reflect estimated “Immigration Enforcement Lifecycle” costs, which the Department of Homeland Security calculates at $17,121 per individual.
Travelers subject to the bond must enter and exit the U.S. through specific ports of entry—including Boston Logan, JFK, and Washington Dulles—and will be granted stays of no more than 30 days, significantly shorter than the typical six-month tourist authorization.
Bondholders who overstay or violate visa terms will automatically forfeit the full amount. Compliant travelers, however, will be eligible for a full refund after exiting the U.S. within the stipulated timeframe. The program requires coordination with the Treasury Department via Pay.gov and outlines an interagency process for evaluating compliance and refund issuance.
Strategic Diplomatic Pressure
Although the pilot phase is expected to impact only 2,000 travelers, the Department of State retains discretion to expand the list of affected countries with just 15 days’ notice. This rolling-update mechanism has created deep uncertainty among nations with active CBI programs, particularly those in the Caribbean.
Beyond immigration control, the program functions as a tool of diplomatic pressure. The Federal Register describes the initiative as a “tool of diplomacy, intended to encourage foreign governments to take immediate action to reduce the overstay rates of their nationals.”
The policy is part of a broader push under Executive Orders 14159 and 14161 to tighten visa scrutiny, expand bond enforcement, and reduce perceived threats from international migration systems. The administration has already revoked hundreds of student visas and imposed travel restrictions on 19 nations, as part of its “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” initiative, Reuters reported.
As the program proceeds, the Treasury Department will analyze its operational data and assess its long-term viability for permanent integration into U.S. immigration enforcement.
