Filipino travelers applying for US visit visas will not be required to post a hefty bond — at least not yet — as the US government begins a pilot program aimed at curbing visa overstays.
The new policy, taking effect on August 20, 2025, will require applicants from select countries to deposit refundable bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 when applying for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visas. However, the Philippines is excluded from this initial rollout, which currently targets travelers from Malawi and Zambia — countries flagged for high overstay rates.
The 12-month initiative is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to tighten immigration controls and enforce visa compliance. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Overstay Report, the Philippines had a 3.11% overstay rate among 210,842 visitors — significantly lower than Malawi’s 14.3% and Zambia’s 11.1%.
The US State Department described the program as a tool to “encourage timely departures and cooperation from foreign governments” in managing their nationals’ compliance with visa conditions.
While the Philippines is safe from the bond requirement for now, the policy allows flexibility to revise the list of targeted countries with just 15 days’ notice — keeping the door open for future inclusion if overstay figures rise.
Some critics argue that the bond scheme could pose a heavy burden on low-income travelers, especially those visiting for family or medical reasons. The US Travel Association projects around 2,000 applicants will be affected initially, mainly from countries with low travel volume to the US.
